EDUCATION  DEFT, 


• 


I 

I 


HISTORY 

OF   THE 

UNITED  STATES, 

FROM  THEIR 

FIRST  SETTLEMENT  AS  COLONIES, 

TO  THE 

CLOSE  OF  THE  WAR  WITH  GREAT  BRITAIN 
Itf  1815. 

TO  WHICH   IS  ADDED 

QUESTIONS, 

ADAPTED  TO  THE  USE  OF  SCHOOLS. 


"  Civitas,  incredibile  meraoratu  est,  adepta  libertate,  quantum  brevi 
creverit." —  Sallust. 


NEW-YORK : 

STEREOTYPED   BY   GEORGE   B.    LOTHIAN, 
PUBLISHED  BY  COLLINS   AND   IIANNAY,   230  PEARL-STREET, 

1829. 

WILLIAM  E.   DEAN,   PRINTER, 


fiDUCATIOH  DEPT, 

istrict  of  New  Yorlc,  ss 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  22d  day  of  August,  in  the  50tu 
year  of  me  independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Charles  Wiley, 
of  the  said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book  the 
right  wherefore  he  claims  as  proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit  * 

History  of  the  United  States,  from  their  First  Settlement  as  Colonies, 
to  the  close  of  the  War  with  Great  Britain,  in  1815. 

"  Civitas,  incredibile  memoratu  est,  adepta  libertate,  quantum  brevi 
creverit." — Sallust. 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled 
"  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of 
Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies, 
during  tlie  time  therein  mentioned  "  And  also  to  an  Act,  entitled  "  An 
Act,  supplementary  to  an  Act,  entitled  an  Act  for  the  encouragement  of 
Learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  tlie 
authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  men 
tioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engrav 
ing,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 

JAMES  DILL,  Clerk  of  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


AT  a  meeting  of  the  American  Academy  of  Language 
and  Belles  Lettres,  held  at  the  City-Hall,  in  the  city  of 
New- York,  October  20,  1820, — Hon.  Brockholst  Living 
ston,  First  Vice  President,  in  the  chair;  Rev.  John  B. 
Romeyn,  I).  D.  "Clerk, — the  following  preamble  and  reso 
lution,  offered  by  W.  S.  Cardell,  Esq.  seconded  by  the  Rev. 
Doctor  Wainwright,  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

As  the  proper  education  of  youth  is,  in  all  communities 
closely  connected  with  national  prosperity  and  honor ;  and 
as  it  is  particularly  important  in  the  United  States,  that 
the  rising  generation  should  possess  a  correct  knowledge 
of  their  own  country,  and  a  patriotic  attachment  to  its  wel 
fare  ; — 

RESOLVEDrthat  a  premium  of  not  less  than  four  hundred 
dollars,  and  a  gold  medal  worth  fifty  dollars,  be  given  to 
the  author,  being  an  American  citizen,  who,  Avithin  two 
years,  shall  produce  the  best  written  history  of  the  United 
{States,  and  which,  with  such  history,  shall  contain  a  suit 
able  exposition  of  the  situation,  character,  and  interests, 
absolute  and  relative,  of  the  American  Republic :  calcu 
lated  for  a  class-book  in  academies  and  schools.  This  work 
is  to  be  examined  and  approved  by  a  committee  of  the 
institution,  in  reference  to  the  interest  of  its  matter,  the 
justness  of  its  facts  and  principles,  the  purity,  perspicuity, 
and  elegance  of  its  style,  and  its  adaptation  to  its  in 
tended  purpose. 

By  order  of  the  Academy, 

ALEX.  Me  LEOD,  Rec'g.  Sec'ry. 

The  undersigned,  being  appointed  a-committee  with  full 
powers  to  examine  the  several  works  submitted,  and  award 
the  medal  and  premium  in  pursuance  of  the  above  resolu 
tion,  having  perused  four  books  offered  by  different  authors, 
according  to  the  conditions  required,  have  selected  one  as 
being  the  best  of  the  four;  and  after  referring  it  to  its  au 
thor  for  such  minor  corrections  as  might  render  it  more 
acceptable  to  the  public,  do  now  finally  adjudge  said  medal 
and  premium  to  be  due  to  the  writer  of  the  work  recently 
printed,  entitled, 

"  A  HISTORY  of  the  UNITED  STATES,  from  their  first 
Settlement  as  Colonies,  to  the  close  of  the  War  with 
Great  Britain,  in  1815. 

"Civitas,  incredibile  memoratu  est,  adepta  libertate.  quantum  brevi  ere- 
?:or;t." — .*aUiist. 

\VM.  P.  VAN  NESS,) 

\LKXR.  Me  LEOD,   'Committee, 

.HCWB  MOJITO  .\".       S 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Introduction          ........          7 

History  of  Virginia      -        -        -        -        -        -        15 

Massachusetts      -------        26 

New-Hampshire  ......        55 

Connecticut          ---.-.-59 

Rhode  Island 66 

New- York  -------        $$ 

New-Jersey          -        -        -----        84 

Delaware     --------87 

Pennsylvania        ------        -        89 

Maryland      ------        .        .        93 

North-Carolina     -------96 

South-Carolina     -        -        -        -        -        -        -100 

Georgia        ----....      105 

French  War  of  1756-63 110 

Revolution 126 

Revolution 139 

Expedition  against  Canada  -        -        -  159 

Campaign  of  1776 169 

Campaign  of  1777         -        -        -        -        -        -179 

Campaign  of  1778        ------      189 

Campaign  of  1779         -        -        -        -        -        -194 

Campaign  of  1780 198 

Campaign  of  1781,  and  termination  of  the  War    -      206 
Adoption  of  the  Constitution,  and  Washington's  Ad 
ministration       -        -        -        -        -        -        -218 

Mr.  Adams's,  Mr.  Jefferson's,  and  part  of  Mr.  Madi 
son's  Administration — Declaration  of  War        -      237 
Campaign  of  1812          -        ...  -      253 

Campaign  of  1813  -  -  -  .  -  -  -  259 
Campaign  of  1814 — Conclusion  of  the  War  -  272 
Appendix  --------  284 


F  II  E  F  A  C  E. 


THE  following  work  was  begun  many  years  since : 
the  appearance,  soon  after,  of  several  books,  on  a  plan 
nearly  similar,  and  the  want  of  sufficient  leisure,  induced 
ihe  Author  to  relinquish  his  design.  Perceiving,  from 
the  subsequent  offer  of  a  premium  for  the  best  written 
work  of  the  kind,  that  another  was  wanted,  he  resumed 
and  completed  his  undents*  ing. 

It  was  his  purpose  to  present  a  correct  and  interesting 
narrative  of  all  the  important  events  in  the  history  of  his 
country :  to  exhibit,  in  a  strong  light,  the  principles  of 
political  and  religious  freedom  which  our  forefathers  pro 
fessed,  and  for  which  they  fought  and  conquered  ;  to  record 
ihe  numerous  examples  of  fortitude,  courage,  and  patriot 
ism,  which  have  rendered  them  illustrious  ;  and  topredi* 
not  so  much  by  moral  reflections,  as  by  the  tenor  of  \\-s- 
narrative,  virtuous  and  patriotic  impressions  upon  the  mind 
of  the  reader.  It  was  his  aim  to  render  the  book  worthy 
to  be  read,  not  only  in  the  academies  and  schools  of  his 
country,  but  by  that  very  numerous  portion  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  who  have  seldom  the  opportunity  to  peruse  more 
voluminous  productions  ;  and  by  those  who  might  wish  to 
review  their  studies,  and  fix  in  their  memory  the  succes 
sion  of  events  :  and  it  was  also  his  aim  to  exhibit  a  style 
which  should  be  correct  and  pure ;  should  be  free  from 
ambitious  ornament,  and  from  those  faults  with  which  the 
writers  of  this  country  have  been  too  justly  charged.  He 
by  no  means  supposes  that  he  has  accomplished  all  he 
aimed  at. 

It  was  thought  indispensible  that  a  history,  intended  to 
be  accessible  to  alj,  should  contain  some  account  of  the 


PREFACE. 

different  states  of  the  union ;  in  order  that  many  preju 
dices,  the  offspring  of  ignorance,  might  be  removed  ;  and 
that  the  injurious  effects,  which  must  flow  from  an  ac 
quaintance  with  the  history  of  a  single  state  only,  might 
be  avoided.  It  was  the  correct  remark  of  "an  able  writer, 
that  the  history  of  colonies  generally  affords  but  two  in 
teresting  eras,  that  of  their  settlement,  and  that  of  their 
independence.  To  both  of  these  the  author  has  more 
particularly  directed  his  attention. 

Let  those  who  imagine  that  no  book  can  do  good  that 
is  not  a  great  book,  consider  that  every  American  should 
be  acquainted  with  the  history  of  his  country,  and  that  a 
voluminous  history  would  not  be  read  by  one  twentieth 
part  of  the  population ;  that,  on  most  minds,  the  same  or 
even  stronger  impressions  would  be  made  by  a  work  well 
written  on  the  plan  of  this,  than  by  a  minute,  and  of 
eourse  often  tedious,  detail  of  every  event ;  that  the  peru 
sal  of  such  a  work,  in  early  life,  must  excite  rather  than 
gratify  curiosity ;  that  much,  very  much  good  would  be 
done,  should  a  knowledge  of  the  important  events  be 
communicated,  and  correct  impressions  be  given,  to  those 
who  would  otherwise  remain  entirely  ignorant  :  and  that, 
in  fact,  this  book  contains  more  than  many  an  octavo  ot 
high  price. 

But  while  it  is  important  that  no  American  citizen 
should  be  ignorant  of  the  principal  events  in  the  history 
of  his  country,  it  is  the  indispensible  duty  of  all,  who 
can  enjoy  the  opportunity,  to  read  and  to  study  the  larger 
and  more  particular  histories  which  have  been  published. 

There  is  little  danger  that  this  small  and  favored  class 
will  neglect  this  duty.  The  danger  is  greater,  that  much 
the  most  numerous  portion  of  the  population — that  por 
tion  in  whose  hands  are  the  destinies  of  the  republic — 
would  read  nothing  on  the  subject  should  expensive  works 
only  be  published. 


HISTORY 


UNITED    STATES 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  continent  of  America  was  probably  unknown  to  the 
ancients.  If  once  known,  as  some  have  supposed,  to  tho 
Carthaginians,  the  Scandinavians,  and  the  Welsh,  aH 
knowledge  of  it  was  afterwards  lost.  The  discovery  of 
1  his  extensive  region,  constituting  nearly  one  half  of  thr; 
habitable  globe,  was  the  accidental  result  of  the  attempts, 
made  in  the  fifteenth  century,  to  find  a  passage,  by  sea, 
from  the  ports  of  Europe  to  the  East  Indies,  whose  pre 
vious  commodities  were  then  transported,  over  land,  by  a 
ionsr,  dangerous,  and  expensive  route. 

2.  This  passage  was  universally  sought  by  sailing  south, 
along  the  western  coasts  of  Europe  and  Africa,  in  the  hope 
of  finding  the  termination  of  the  continent,  when  the  indies, 
it  was  supposed,  might  be  attained,  by  taking  at  first  an 
easterly  and  then  a  northerly  course.     The  discovery  of 
the  ("ape  of  Good  Hope,  in  1487,  encouraged  expectation, 
;md  gave  increased  activity  to  the  spirit  of  adventure. 

3.  Among  the  navigators  of  that  age,  Christopher  Co 
lumbus,  a  native  of  the  republic  of  Genoa,  was  distinguish 
ed  for  experience  and  skill  in  his  profession,  for  extensive 
knowledge,  and  for  a  bold  and  original  genius.     The  shape 
of  the  earth,  then  known  to  be  round,  and  the  fact  that 
pieces  of  carved  wood,  a  canoe,  and  two  human  bodies,  of 
a  complexion  different  from  that  of  Europeans,  had  been 
driven,  by  long  westerly  winds,  upon  the  sliores  of  islands 
contiguous  to  Europe,  suggested  to  his  observing  mind  the 
project  of  seeking  the  East 'Indies  by  sailing  directly  west. 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

'4.»  L^iajolo  . i'o.  (l^frav  tho  expenses  of  an  expedition,  he 
sought  firs''  the'  ass'isiancfc  6f  rm;x  native  city.  His  coun 
trymen',  accustomed  only  to  cruising,  in  frail  vessels,  along 
the  shores  of  the  continent,  treated  the  project  as  chimeri 
cal,  and  declined  furnishing  aid.  A  pressing  application  to 
the  king  of  Portugal,  in  whose  dominions  he  had  resided, 
met  likewise  with  ridicule  and  rejection.  Persevering  in 
his  purpose,  he  then  sent  his  brother,  Bartholomew,  to 
England,  to  apply  to  Henry  VII,  and  went  himself  to 
Spain,  which  \vas  then  governed  by  Ferdinand  and  Isa 
bella,  from  whom  he  solicited  assistance. 

5.  For  a  long  time  he  solicited  in  vain.     At  length  the 
queen  persuaded  by  his  representations,  became  his  friend, 
and  patron.     By  her  directions,  three  small  vessels  were 
fitted  out,  and  he  was  authorised  to  sail  with  these  i 
his  projected  voyage  of  discovery.     On  the  third  of  Au 
gust,  1493,  he  departed  from  Palos,  in.jSpain,  directing  his 
course  towards  the  Canary  Islands. 

6.  He  stopped  there  to  refit,  and,  on  the  sixth  of  Sep- 
tr-mber,  boldly  adventured  into  seas  which  no  vessel  had 
yet  entered,  with  no  chart  to  direct  him,  no  guide  but  his 
compass,  and  without  any  knowledge  of  the  tides  or  cur 
rents  which  might  interrupt  his  course.     He  moved  rapidly 
before  the  trade  wind,  which  blows  invariably  from  the. 
cast  to  the  west  between  the  tropics,  judiciously  conceal 
ing  from  his  ignorant  and  timid  crews  the  progress  he  made, 
lest  they  might  be  alarmed  at  the  speed  with  which  they 
receded  from  home. 

7.  About  the  fourtee^k^;  September,  he  was  distant 
nearly  six  hundred  imleJgOTQJIn  the  most  westerly  of  tho 
Canaries,  and  here  flpj^Bjietic  needle  was  observed  to 
vary  from  its  directHlBHEpolar  star,  and  incline  towards 
1  he  west ;  an  appe^^^^SFhich,  although  now  familiar, 
had  never  before  beeirtjpfifrved. 

8.  Columbus  and  his  companions  were  alarmed.     They 
were  far  from  land,  and  far  from  the  tracks  of  other  navi 
gators.     All  before  and  around  them  was  unknown,  and 
their  only  guide  seemed  to  be  no  longer  entitled  to  their 
confidence.     But  although  alarmed,  Columbus  lost  not  his 
presence  of  mind.     He  assigned  a  reason  for  the  variation, 
which,  without  satisfying  himself,  silenced  the  murmurs 
of  his  companions. 

9.  But  the  interval  of  quiet  and  subordination  was  short. 
Disaffection   soon  reappeared  among  the  ignorant    and 
wavering,  and,  gradually  spreading,  at  length  pervaded  the 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

whole  squadron.  The  men  blamed  their  sovereign  for 
li-stening  to  the  schemes  of  a  dreaming  adventurer.  The 
indications  of  land  had  all  proved  fallacious.  They  would 
be  amused  and  deceived  no  longer.  They  agreed  that  Co 
lumbus  should  be  forced  to  relinquish  an  undertaking  which 
seemed  to  promise  nothing  but  destruction ;  and  some  of 
the  more  daring  talked  of  throwing  him  into  the  sea,  as  a 
visionary  projector,  whose  death  would  cause  no  regret, 
and  produce  no  inquiry. 

10.  Amidst  these  difficulties,  Columbus  displayed  those 
traits  of  character  which  proved  the  greatness  of  his  mind, 
and  his  peculiar  fitness  for  the  arduous  duties  of  his  sta 
tion.   He  appeared  with  a  steady  and  cheerful  countenance, 
as  if  satisfied  with  what  he  had  done.     Sometimes  he 
soothed  his  companions  by  holding  out  to  them  a  prospect 
of  riches  and  of  fame,  and  by  offering  a  gratuity  to  him 
who  should  first  discover  land.     Sometimes  he  assumed  a 
tone  of  authority,  threatening  them  with  the  vengeance  of 
their  sovereign,  and  everlasting  infamy,  should  they  com 
pel  him  to  abandon  the  undertaking. 

1 1.  These  encouragements  and  threats  prevented  open 
and  forcible  resistance  to  his  authority.     Meanwhile  the 
squadron  proceeded  onward ;  the  indications  of  land  had 
become  frequent,  and  convinced  him  that  it  could  not  bo 
far  distant.     But  his  crew  were  unconvinced,  and  their 
discontent  increased.    Assembling  tumultuously  on  deck, 
they  demanded  to  be  conducted  back  to  Spain.     As  a  last 
expedient,  he  proposed  that  they  should  continue  on  their 
Bourse  three  days  longer,  and  if,  in  that  time,  land  should 
not  be  discovered,  he  would  then  comply  with  their  demand. 

12.  They  consented.     Before  the  time  expired,  Colum 
bus,  on  the  llth  of  October,  at  midnight,  saw  a  light  glim 
mering  at  a  distance.     "  A  light !  a  light !"  was  the  joyful 
exclamation,  which  instantly  resounded  through  the  squad 
ron.     On  the  approach  of  morning,  all  hands  stood  gazing 
intently  in  the  direction  wherejand,  it  was  expected,  would 
be  discovered. 

13.  Soon,  on  board  the  Piiita,  the  most  forward  vessel, 
was  heard  the  cry  of  "  Land !  land!"  which-was  repeated, 
with  almost  frantic  delight,  by  the  crews  of  the  other  ves 
sels.     Passing  from  one  extreme  to  the  other,  they,  who  a 
lew  days  before  had  reviled  and  insulted  their  commander, 
now  regarded  him  as  one  whom  the  Deity  had  endowed 
with  knowledge  and  penetration  rtbovn  th<~«  Common  !<>t  oj 
rnortnl?. 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

14.  At  sunrise,  Columbus,  in  a  rich  and  splendid  dress, 
landed,  and,  with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and  display 
ing  the  royal  standard,  took  possession  of  the  island  for  the 
crown  of  Spain,  all  his  followers  kneeling  on  the  shore 
and  kissing  the  ground  with  tears  of  joy.     The  natives, 
who  had  assembled  in  great  numbers  on  the  first  appear 
ance  of  the  ships,  stood  around  the  Spaniards,  gazing  in 
speechless  astonishment. 

15.  "  The  Europeans  were  hardly  less  amazed  at  the 
scene  before  them.     Every  herb,  and  shrub,  and  tree  was 
different  from  those  which  flourished  in  Europe.     The  in 
habitants  appeared  in  the  simple  innocence  of  nature,  en 
tirely  naked.     Their  black  hair,  long  and  uncurled,  floated 
upon  their  shoulders  or  was  bound  in  tresses  around  their 
heads.    Though  not  tall,  they  were  well  shaped  and  active. 
They  were  shy  at  first,  through  fear,  but  soon  became  fa 
miliar  with  the  Spaniards ;  from  whom,  with  transports  of 
joy,  they  received  various  trinkets,  for  which  in  return 
they  gave  such  provisions  as  they  had,  and  some  cotton 
yarn,  the  only  commodity  of  value  they  could  produce." 

16.  To  this  island  Columbus-  gave  the  name  of  San  Sal 
vador.     The  natives  called  it  Guanahani,  and  by  that 
name  it  is  now  known.     It  is  one  of  the  Bahama  isles,  and 
is  above  three  thousand  miles  from  Gomera,  the  most 
western  of  the  Canaries.     From  the  poverty  and  ignorance 
of  the  inhabitants,  Columbus  was  convinced  that  he  had 
not  yet  arrived  at  the  rich  country  which  was  the  object 
of  his  search.     Leaving  Guanahani,  he  discovered  and 
visited  several  other  islands,  and  at  length  arrived  at  one 
called  Hayti,  and  by  him  Hispaniola.     Here  he  remained 
a  few  weeks,  and  then  returned  to  Spain. 

17.  The  news  of  his  wonderful  discovery  filled  the  king 
dom  with  astonishment  and  joy.     His  reception  at  court 
was  accompanied  by  flattering  and  splendid  ceremonies 
ordained  for  the  occasion ;  and  he  was  honored  by  many 
proofs  of  royal  favor.     He  made  three  subsequent  voyages, 
and,  in  1498,  discovered  the  continent  of  America,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Oronoco,  a  river  of  the  third  or  fourth  mag 
nitude  in  the  New  World,  but  far  surpassing  the  largest 
in  the  Old. 

18.  The  honor,  however  of  first  discovering  the  conti 
nent,  must,  without  diminishing  the  merit  of  Columbus, 
be  given  to  Jx>hn  Cabot  and  his  son  Sebastian.     They  were 
Venetians  by  birth,  but,  soon  after  the  result  of  the  first 
voyage  of  Columbus  wa°  known,  were  sent,  by  the  king 


INTRODUCTION.  li 

of  England,  on  an  expedition  of  discovery,  in  the  same  di 
rection.  In  June,  1497,  they  arrived  at  the  island  of  New 
foundland,  in  North  America,  and,  proceeding  westward, 
soon  after  reached  the  continent.  It  being  their  object 
also  to  find  a  direct  passage  to  the  East  Indies,  they  first 
sailed  northwardly  in  search  of  it,  as  far  as  the  57th  de 
gree  of  latitude ;  then,  returning,  cruised  along  the  coast 
to  East  Florida;  and  thence  sailed  to  England  without 
having  made  any  settlement.  Upon  the  discoveries  made 
in  this  voyage  the  English  founded  their  claim  to  the  east 
ern  portion  of  North  America. 

19.  In  1499,  Alonza  de  Ojeda,  a  companion  of  Colum 
bus  in  his  first  expedition,  sailing  under  the  patronage  of 
several  Portuguese  merchants,  discovered  the  continent 
at  Paria,  in  the  5th  degree  of  north  latitude.    Americus 
Vespucius,  a  Florentine  gentleman  who  accompanied  him, 
published,  on  his  return,  an  account  of  the  voyage  and  a 
description  of  the  country  which  they  had  visited;  and 
from  him  it  derives  the  name  it  bears. 

20.  In  1504,  several  adventurous  navigators,  from  dif 
ferent  parts  of  France,  came,  in  small  vessels,  to  fish  on 
the  banks  of  Newfoundland.     In  1524,  John  Verrazzano, 
a  Florentine,  in  the  employment  of  the  king  of  France, 
sailed  along  the  coast  of  America,  from  Florida  to  the  50th 
degree  of  north  latitude.     He  is  supposed  to  have  entered 
the  harbour  of  New- York.     He  made,  the  next  year,  ano 
ther  voyage,  from  which  he  never  returned,  nor  is  it  known 

•by,  what  disaster  he  perished.  %:j>;x- ;-, 

'**'"% 21.  During  the  next  forty  years,  frequent  voyages  were 
made  to  the  coast  of  North  America.  Of  some,  the  object 
was  fishing;  of  others,  trade  with  the  natives.  In  1540, 
the  French  made  an  attempt  to  plant  a  colony  in  Canada, 
which  was  unsuccessful. 

^  22.  The  religious  wars  which  afflicted  France  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  induced  that  illustrious  statesman,  Jas 
per  Coligni,  the  head  of  the  Protestant  sect,  to  project,  in 
1502,  a  settlement  in  America,  to  which  his  brethren 
might  retire  from  the  persecution  of  the  Catholics.  Fit 
ting  out  two  ships,  he  sent  them  thither  under  the  com 
mand  of  John  Ribaut,  who  landed  at  a  place  supposed  to 
be  within  the  limits  of  South  Carolina,  built  a  fort,  left  a 
part  of  his  men,  and  returned  to  France. 

23.  The  men  who  were  left,  soon  after  mutinied,  killed 
their  commander,  built  and  equipped  a  vessel  and  put  to 
sea.  Having  been  out  several  weeks  and  consumed  all 


3  a  INTRODUCTION. 

their  provisions,  one  of  their  number,  who  consented  to  be 
made  a  victim  to  save  his  comrades,  was  killed  and  eaten. 
A  few  days  afterwards,  they  were  taken  up  by  an  English 
vessel  and  carried  to  England.  This  was  the  first  attempt 
to  plant  a  colony  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States ; 
and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  to  secure  an  asylum  from 
religious  persecution  was  the  object  in  view.  Coligni  af 
terwards  sent  a  party  to  Florida,  who  were  treacherously 
massacred  by  the  Spaniards. 

24.  In  1583,  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert,  having  received 
from  queen  Elizabeth  a  grant  of  such  "  remote,  heathen, 
and  barbarous  lands"  as  he  might  discover  and  occupy, 
fitted  out  a  squadron  of  five  ships,  and  sailed  for  America. 
On  arriving  before  St.  John,  in  Newfoundland,  he  found 
thirty-six  vessels  fishing  in  the  harbor.     He  landed  and 
took  possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign. 
On  his  return  to  England,  he  suffered  shipwreck  and 
perished. 

25.  The  next  year,  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  distinguished 
in  the  history  of  England  as  a  gallant  knight  and  as  the 
favorite  of  the  queen,  obtained  a  renewal  of  the  patent 
granted  to  Sir  Humphrey,  who  was  his  half  brother,  and 
despatched  to  America  two  ships  commanded  by  captains 
Amidas  and  Barlow.     They  first  landed  on  an  island  in 
the  inlet  to  Pamplico  sound,  then  proceeded  to  the  isle  of 
Roanoke  at  the  mouth  of  Albemarle  sound,  in  North  Caro 
lina,  and  at  both  places  were  treated  with  great  respect  by 
the  natives. 

26.  Having  freighted  their  ships  with  furs,  sassafras, 
and  cedar,  they  returned  to  England,  where  they  published 
marvellous  accounts  of  the  beauty  of  the  country,  the  fer 
tility  of  the  soil,  the  mildness  of  the  climate,  and  the  in 
nocence  of  the  natives.     The  queen  was  so  charmed  with 
the  description,  that,  as  a  memorial  that  the  country  had 
been  discovered  during  the  reign  of  a  virgm  queen,  she 
called  it  Virginia. 

27.  The  next  year,  Raleigh  sent  from  England  seven 
vessels,  commanded  by  Sir  Richard  Grenville,  and  carry 
ing  upwards  of  one  hundred  persons,  destined  to  begin  a. 
settlement.     They  were  left  under  Ralph  Lane,  on  Roa 
noke  island.     The  success  of  the  Spaniards  in  finding  gold 
in  South  America,  led  these  adventurers  to  employ  their 
time  in  a  fruitless  search  lor  it  here.     In  1586,  they  were 
visited  by  Sir  PVancis  Drake,  who,  at  their  request,  con 
veyed  them  back  to  England'.     Lane  carrying  home  a 


INTRODUCTION,  13 

quantity  of  tobacco,  the  Indian  custom  of  smoking  it  was 
adopted  by  Raleigh,  a  man  of  gaiety  and  fashion,  and  in 
troduced  at  court. 

28.  Soon  after  Drake  departed,  Grenville  again  arrived 
with  provisions  for  the  settlement.     Finding  it  abandoned, 
he  left  fifteen  men  to  keep  possession  of  the  country.    In 
1587,  three  other  ships  were  sent  to  the  same  place,  but 
the  men  who  had  been  left  could  not  be  found,  having  pro 
bably  been  murdered  by  the  savages.     After  remaining  a1 
i'ew  weeks  on  the  coast,  the  ships  returned  to  England, 
leaving  one  hundred  and  seventeen  men   on  the  island. 
War  then  existing  between  England  and  Spain,  two  years 
elapsed  before  the  coast  was  again  visited.     In  that  period 
the  whole  number  perished  ;  but  in  what  manner  has  never 
been  ascertained.     Thus  ended  the  exertions  of  Raleigh 
to  plant  a  colony  in  America. 

29.  These  successive  misfortunes  withdrew,  for  several 
years,  the  attention  of  the  English  from  these  distant  re 
gions.     In  1602,  Bartholomew  Gosnokl  made  a  voyage  to 
America.    Instead  of  taking  the  circuitous,  but  usual  route, 
by  the  West  India  islands,  he  steered  directly  west  from 
England,  shortening  the  voyage  at  least  one  third,  and  ar 
rived,  in  May,  on  the  coast  of  Massachusetts.     He  disco 
vered  a  headland,  and  taking  a  great  quantity  of  codfish 
near  it,  called  it  Cape  Cod.     Proceeding  southwardly,  he 
passed  Gay  Head,  entered  Buzzard's  bay,  and  upon  an 
island  within  it  erected  a  small  fort,  the  ruins  of  which 
were  visible  so  late  as  1797.     After  trading  a  while  with 
the  Indians  he  returned  home. 

30.  The  report  made  by  Gosnokl  revived  the  spirit  of 
adventure.     In  1603  and  1605,  two  voyages  were  mado 
in  the  same  direction,  and  Penobscot  bay,  Massachusetts 
bay,  and  the  rivers  between  them  were  discovered.     The 
accounts  given  by  the  last  navigators  confirmed  the  report 
of  Gosnold,  and  led  to  a  more  extensive  scheme  of  coloni 
zation  than  had  yet  been  attempted. 

31.  Of  this  scheme,  Mr.  Richard  Hakluyt  was  the  most 
active  promoter.     By  his  persuasion  an  association  of  gen 
tlemen,  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom,  was  formed  for 
the  purpose  of  sending  colonies  to  America.     Upon  their 
application  to  king  James,  he,  by  letters  patent,  dated  in 
1606,  divided  the  country  of  Virginia,  then  considered  as 
extending  from  the  southern  boundary  of  North  Carolina  to 
the  northern  boundary  of  Maine,  into  two  districts,  and  con 
stituted  two  companies  for  planting  colonies  within  them. 


VI  INTRODUCTION. 

32.  The  southern  district  he  granted  to  Sir  Thomas 
Gates  and  his  associates,  chiefly  resident  in  London,  and 
therefore  styled  the  London   Company.     The  northern 
district  he  granted  to  Thomas  Hanham  and  his  associates, 
who  were  styled  the  Plymouth  Company.     The  two  dis 
tricts  were  styled  South  and  North  Virginia.     The  mem 
bers  of  these  companies  were  principally  merchants ;  their 
objects  were  the  extension  of  commerce  and  the  discovery 
of  mines  of  the  precious  metals,  which  were  supposed  to 
abound  in  North  as  well  as  in  South  America. 

33.  For  the  supreme  government  of  the  colonies,  a  grand 
council  was  instituted,  the  members  of  which  were  to  re 
side  in  England,  and  to  be  appointed  by  the  king.     The 
subordinate  jurisdiction  was  committed  to  a  council  in  each 
colony,  the  members  of  which  were  to  be  appointed  by  the 
grand   council   in   England,   and  to  be  governed  by  its 
instructions.     To  the  emigrants  and  their  descendants 
were  secured  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights  of  denizens 
or  citizens,  in  the  same  manner  and  to  the  same  extent  as 
if  they  had  remained  or  been  born  in  England. 

34.  Before  the  date,  however,  of  these  letters  patent, 
the  king  of  France  granted  to  the  Sieur  De  Monts  all  the 
territory  from  the  40th  to  the  46th  degree  of  north  latitude, 
or  from  New-Jersey  to  Nova  Scotia,  then  called  Acadia. 
By  virtue  of  this  grant  a  settlement  was  made  in  1604,  on 
the  southeastern  side  of  the  bay  of  Fundy,  and  called  Port 
Royal.     In   1608,  Samuel  Champlain,  the  agent  of  De 
Monts,  laid  the  foundation  of  Quebec,  the  capital  of  Ca 
nada.     From  these  possessions  of  the  French,  the  colo 
nies  of  New  England  and  New-York  were,  for  more  than 
a  century,  frequently  and  cruelly  annoyed. 


CHAPTER  I.  * 
HISTORY  OF  VIRGINIA. 

THE  London  Company,  soon  after  its  incorporation  in 
1606,  despatched  to  America  three  ships,  having  on  board 
one  hundred  and  five  persons,  destined  to  begin  a  settle 
ment  in  South  Virginia.  Christopher  Newport  command 
ed  the  squadron.  He  was  accompanied  by  captain  Gos- 
nold  and  other  distinguished  individuals ;  some  allured  by 
curiosity,  and  some  by  the  prospect  of  gain,  to  visit  a 
country  said  to  be  inhabited  by  a  new  race  of  beings,  and 
to  abound  in  silver  and  gold. 

2.  A  sealed  box  was  delivered  to  Newport,  with  direc 
tions  that  it  should  not  be  opened  until  twenty-four  hours 
after  the  emigrants  had  landed  in  America.    During  the 
voyage,  violent  dissensions  arose  among  the  principal  per 
sonages  on  board  the  squadron.     Of  most  of  them,  .lohn 
Smith,  one  of  the  adventurers,  incurred  the  distrust  and 
hatred.    His  superior  talents,  and  the  fame  he  had  ac 
quired  by  his  exploits  in  war,  excited  their  envy,  and  pro 
bably  caused  him  to  claim  for  himself  greater  deference 
than  they  were  willing  or  bound  to  yield. 

3.  In  his  youth  he  had  been  a  merchant's  apprentice. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  quitted  his  master  and  travelled 
in  France,  the  Netherlands,  Egypt,  and  Germany.     Hav 
ing  joined  the  army  of  the  emperor  of  Austria,  who  was 
then  at  war  with  the  Turks,  he  received,  as  a  reward  for 
a  successful  stratagem,  the  command  of  a  troop  of  horse. 

4.  In  three  personal  combats  with  Turkish  champions, 
he  came  off  victorious,  at  each  time  killing  his  adversary. 
In  a  battle  which  subsequently  took  place,  he  was  wounded 
and  taken  prisoner.    After  his  recovery,  he  was  sent  as  a 
slave  to  Constantinople.     He  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
a  cruel  master ;  but  his  mistress,  captivated  by  his  fine 
appearance  and  heroic  character,  and  commiserating  his 
fate,  sent  him,  in  the  absence  of  her  husband,  to  her  bro 
ther,  who  dwelt  near  the  sea  of  Asoph.     He,  disregarding 
her  directions,  assigned  to  Smith  degrading  and  laborious 
tasks,  and  beat  him  without  mercy  whenever  he  failed  to 
perform  them. 

5.  Seizing  a  favorable  opportunity,  he  killed  his  new 
master  and  fled  into  Russia.     After  visiting  Germany, 
France,  Spain,  and  Morocco,  he  returned  to  England* 


16  VIRGINIA.  ( 

became  acquainted  with  Gosnold,  and  was  easily  persuaded 
to  embark  in  an  expedition  to  a  country  he  had  not  yet 
visited,  in  search  of  new  scenes  and  new  adventures. 
While  yet  at  sea,  he  was  accused  of  an  intention  to  mur 
der  the  council,  usurp  the  government,  and  make  himself 
king  of  Virginia ;  and  upon  this  absurd  accusation  was  put 
in  confinement. 

6.  The  place  of  their  destination  was  the  disastrous 
position  of  the  Roanoke.    A  storm  fortunately  drove  them 
to  the  mouth  of  Chesapeake  bay,  which  they  entered*  on 
the  26th  of  April,  1607.     Discovering  a  large  and  beauti 
ful  river,  they  gave  it  the  name  of  James  River,  ascended 
it,  and  on  its  banks  had  several  interviews  with  the  natives. 

7.  In  one  of  these  a  chief  came  forward,  holding  in  one 
hand  his  bow  and  arrows,  in  the  other  a  pipe  of  tobacco, 
and  demanded  the  cause  of  their  coining.     They  made 
signs  of  peace,  and  were  received  as  friends.     Paspiha, 
another  chief,  when  informed  of  their  wish  to  settle  in  the 
country,  offered  them  as  much  land  as  they  wanted,  and 
sent  them  a  deer  for  their  entertainment. 

8.  On  the  13th  of  May,  they  debarked  at  a  place  which 
they  called  Jamestown.     On  opening  the  sealed  box,  it 
was  found  to  contain  the  names  of  the  council  and  instruc 
tions  for  their  guidance.     In  the  list  were  the  names  of 
Gosnold,  Smith,  Wingfield,  and  Newport.     Wingfield  was 
elected  president,  and  a  vote  was  passed  excluding  Smith 
from  his  seat  at  the  board.     He  was,  however,  released 
from  confinement. 

9.  The  whole  country  was  then  a  wilderness,  in  which 
a  few  Indians  roamed  in  pursuit  of  their  enemies,  or  of 
wild  beasts  for  food.     In  color  they  were  darker  than  the 
European,  but  not  so  black  as  the  negro.     They  possessed 
all  the  vices  and  virtues  of  the  savage  state ;  were  cun 
ning  in  stratagem,  ferocious  in  battle,  cruel  to  their  con 
quered  enemies,  kind  and  hospitable  to  their  friends.    They 
had  no  written  language ;  they  were  unacquainted  with 
the  use  of  iron  and  the  other  metals;  their  weapons  of 
\var  were  a  bow  and  arrows,  a  stone  hatchet,  which  they 
called  a  tomahawk,  and  a  club.     They  lived  principally 
by  hunting,  but  sometimes  cultivated  small  patches  of 
Indian  corn. 

10.  From  such  neighbors  the  emigrants  could  expect; 
hut  little  aid  or  comfort.     Yet  they  took  no  care  to  provide 
Vor  their  future  subsistence  or  preservation.     They  plant 
ed  nothing  the  first  year.     The  provisions  brought  from 


VIRGINIA.  17 

:1  England  were  soon  consumed.  In  four  months,  famine  and 
the  diseases  of  a  hot  and  damp  climate  swept  away  fifty 
t>f  their  number. 

11.  These  dreadful  distresses  led  them  to  reflect  upon 
their  situation  and  conduct.     Having  become  sensible  of 
their  injustice  to  Smith,  they,  at  his  request,  had  granted 
him  a  trial,  which  resulted  in  an  honorable  acquittal.     His 
personal  talents  and  activity  now  enforced,  in  adversity, 
the  same  regard  and  deference  which,  in  prosperous  times, 
are  yielded  only  to  vested  authority  and  official  station. 

12.  By  his  advice,  a  fort  was  erected,  to  protect  them 
from  the  attacks  of  the  Indians.     To  procure  provisions 
and  explore  the  country,  he  made  frequent  arid  distant  ex 
cursions  into  the  wilderness.     In  one  of  these  he  seized 
an  Indian  idol,  made  with  skins  stuffed  with  moss,  for  the 
redemption  of  which  as  much  corn  was  brought  him  as  he 
required.     Sometimes  he  procured  supplies  by  caresses, 
sometimes  by  purchase,  and  when  these  means  failed  of 
success,  he  scrupled  not  to  resort  to  stratagem  and  violence. 

13.  But  in  the  midst  of  his  activity  and  usefulness,  lie 
was,  while  exploring  the  source  of  the  river  Chickahominy, 
surprised  and  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians.     He  defended 
himself  bravely  until  his  companions  were  killed,  when  he 
turned  to  flee.     Running  at  hazard,  he  sunk  to  his  neck 
in  TI  swamp  and  was  taken  prisoner. 

14.  The  exulting  savages  conducted  him  in  triumph, 
through  several  towns,  to  their  king,  Powhatan.     At  the 
end  of  six  weeks,  their  chiefs  assembled  to  deliberate  on 
his  fate.     They  decided  that  he  should  die.     He  was  led 
forth  to  execution ;  his  head  was  placed  upon  a  stone,  and 
an  Indian  stood  near  witli  a  club,  the  instrument  of  death. 
At  this  instant,  Pocahontas,  the  young  and  favorite  daugh 
ter  of  the  king,  appeared,  and  rushing  between  the  execu 
tioner  and  the  prisoner,  folded  his  head  in  her  arms  and 
entreated  her  father  to  spare  his  life.     Powhatan  relented, 
directed  Smith  to  be  conducted  to  his  wigwam  or  hut,  and 
soon  afterwards  sent  him,  escorted  by  twelve  guides,  to 
Jamestown. 

15.  On  his  arrival  there,  he  found  the  number  of  set 
tlers  reduced  to  thirty-eight,  and  most  of  these  had  deter 
mined  to  abandon  the  country.    By  persuasions  and  threats, 
he  induced  a  majority  to  relinquish  their  design.     The  re 
mainder,  more  resolute,  went  on  board  a  small  vessel  in 
tbft  river.    Against  these  he  instantly  directed  the  guns 


VIRGINIA. 

r>f  the  fort,  when,  to  avoid  the  danger  of  being  sunk,  they 
hastened  back  to  their  companions. 

1 6.  Sustaining  now  a  high  reputation  among  the  Indians, 
he  obtained  from  them  occasional  supplies  of  provisions, 
which  preserved  the  colony  from  famine.     The  princess 
Pocahontas  also,  remembering  him  whose  life  she  had 
saved,  frequently  sent  him  such  articles  as  were  most 
needed.     The  settlers  were  thus  enabled  to  subsist  until 
captain  Newport,  who  had  returned  to  England,  again  ar 
rived  at  Jamestown,  with  a  quantity  of  provisions,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  persons  who  came  to  reside  in  the 
colony. 

17.  All  danger  being  in  appearance  over,  the  emigrants 
no  longer  submitted  to  the  authority,  nor  listened  to  the 
advice  of  Smith.     Disorder  and  confusion  followed ;  and 
about  this  time,  that  raging  passion  for  gold,  which  first 
impelled  Europeans  to  resort  to  this  country,  was  again 
excited.     In  a  stream  north  of  Jamestown,  a  glittering 
earth  was  discovered  wliich  was  supposed  to  be  gold  dust. 
fei  Immediately,"  says  Stith,  in  his  history,  "  there  was  no 
thought,  no  discourse,  no  hope,  and  no  work,  but  to  dig 
gold,  wash  gold,  refine  gold,  and  load  gold."    And  notwith 
standing  the  remonstrances  of  Smith,  a  ship  wras  freighted 
with  this  worthless  commodity  and  sent  to  England. 

18.  Finding  he  could  not  be  useful  in  Jamestown,  and 
unwilling  to  be  idle,  Smith  set  out  upon  an  expedition  to 
explore  the  coasts  of  the  Chesapeake.     With  great  labor 
and  fatigue,  he  examined  every  inlet,  river,  and  bay,  as  far 
as  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock ;  whence,  his  provi 
sions  being  exhausted,  he  returned  home. 

19.  He  found  the  people  turbulent  and  discontented. 
They  charged  the  president  with  squandering  the  public 
property,  and  imposing  upon  them  unnecessary  fatigue,  by 
compelling  them  to  build  for  himself  a  house  of  pleasure 
in  the  woods.     He  was  deposed;  Smith  was  chosen  to 
succeed  him ;  he  refused  to  accept  the  office,  but  no  other 
person  was  appointed. 

20.  Having  procured  a  supply  of  provisions,  lie  again 
departed  to  complete  the  survey  of  the  Chesapeake.     He 
visited  all  the  countries  on  both  shores ;  he  traded  with 
some  tribes ;  he  fought  with  others ;  and  left,  among  all, 
the  highest  admiration  of  the  beneficence  or  valor  of  the 
Knglish.     Returning  after  an  absence  of  six  weeks,  he 
vras  asain  chosen  president.     Yielding  to  the  general 


VIRGINIA.  1* 

•wish,  lie  consented -to  accept  the  office.  Under  his  ad 
ministration,  habits  of  industry  and  subordination  were 
formed,  and  peace  and  plenty  smiled  upon  the  colony. 

21.  In  1609,  the  London  Company,  having  obtained  a 
new  charter,  conferring  greater  powers  and  privileges  than 
t  he  former,  despatched  to  Virginia  nine  ships,  carrying  five 
hundred  emigrants,  and  certain  officers  appointed  to  su 
persede  the  existing  government.     The  ship,  in   which 
these  officers  embarked,  was  driven  ashore  on  the  island 
of  Bermudas.     The  settlers,  who  came  in  the  others,  were 
licentious,  profligate,  and  disorderly.     Assuming  the  power 
of  disposing  of  the  government,  they  conferred  it  some 
times  on  one,  and  sometimes  on  another. 

22.  In  this  confusion,  Smith  hesitated  but  a  short  time 
in  deciding  what  course  to  pursue.     He  determined  that. 
Ms  authority  was  not  suspended  until  the  arrival  of  the 
persons  appointed  to  supersede  him,  and  resumed,  witi^a 
strong  hand,  the  reins  of  government.     He   boldly  im 
prisoned  the  leaders  of  the  sedition,  and  restored  for  a 
lime  regularity  and  obedience. 

23.  The  Indians,  jealous  of  the  increasing  power  of  the 
strangers  who  had  invaded  their  country,  concerted  a  plot 
to  destroy  them.     Pocahontas.  the  constant  friend  of  Vir 
ginia,  hastened,  in  a  dark  and  dreary  night,  to  Jamestown, 
and  informed  Smith  of  his  danger.     Measures  of  precau 
tion  were  instantly  taken.     The  Indians,  perceiving  that 
their  design  was  discovered,  again  brought  presents  of 
peace  to  the  English. 

24.  Soon  after,  Smith,  having  received  by  accident  a  se 
vere  wound,  returned  to  England  to  procure  the  aid  of  a 
surgeon.     Disastrous  consequences   followed.     The  In 
dians,  learning  that  the  man  whom  they  dreaded  most  had 
left  the  colony,  attacked  it  with  united  forces.     A  dread 
ful  famine  ensued.     To  such  extremity  were  the  settlers 
reduced,  that  they  devoured  the  skins  of  the  horses,  the 
bodies  of  the  Indians  whom  they  had  killed,  and  at  last 
those  of  their  own  companions,  who  had  sunk  under  accu 
mulated  miseries.     These  tremendous  sufferings  were  re 
collected  long  afterwards  with  horror,  and  the  period  was 
remembered  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the  "STARV 
ING  TIMS." 

25.  In  six  months,  the  colony,  from  five  hundred  per 
sons,  was  reduced  to  sixty ;  and  these  were  exceedingly 
dejected.     In  this  situation  they  were  visited  by  those  who 
were*  shipwrecked  at.  Bermudas.     AH  immediately  deter- 


VIRGINIA. 

mined  to  return  to  England.  For  this  purpose,  the  rem 
nant  of  the  colony  embarked  on  board  the  ships  just  arrived, 
and  sailed  down  the  river.  Fortunately  they  were  met 
by  Lord  Delaware,  who  had  been  appointed  governor  of 
Virginia,  and  who,  having  brought  with  him  a  supply  of 
provisions,  persuaded  them  to  return  to  Jamestown. 

26.  This  nobleman,  by  the  mildness  of  his  temper  and 
his  assiduity  in  business,  restored  order  and  contentment ; 
and  the  Indians  were  again  taught  to  respect  and  fear  the 
English.    After  a  short  administration,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Sir  Thomas  Dale,  by  whom,  on  the  recurrence  of  dis 
orderly  conduct,  martial  law  was  proclaimed  and  rigidly 
enforced.     In  the  same  year,  [1611,]  Sir  Thomas  Gates 
was  appointed  governor.     He  brought  with  him  to  Virginia 
a  reinforcement  of  settlers,  by  whom  new  towns  were 
founded.     And  another  charter  was  granted  by  the  king, 
conferring  additional  privileges. 

27.  In  1612,  captain  Argal  having  learned,  while  on  a 
trading  voyage  to  the  Potomac,  that  Pocahontas  was  in 
the  neighborhood,  visited  and  persuaded  her  to  go  on  board 
his  vessel.     He  treated  her  respectfully,  but  detained  and 
carried  her  to  Jamestown.     He  presumed  that  the  posses 
sion  of  Pocahontas  would  give  the  English  an  ascendency 
over  Powhatan,  who  was  known  to  feel  a  strong  attach 
ment  to  his  daughter.     In  this,  however,  he  was  disap 
pointed.     Powhatan,  noble  by  nature,  felt  indignant  at  this 
instance  of  treachery  in  the  English.     He^offered  a  ran 
som  for  his  daughter,  but  refused  to  consent  to  any  terms 
of  peace  until  she  was  restored. 

28.  During  her  stay  at  Jamestown,  her  beauty,  her  art 
less  simplicity,  and  those  graces  of  manner  which  ever 
accompany  dignity  of  mind  and  innocence  of  heart,  won 
the  affections  of  Mr.  Rolfe,  a  young  and  respectable  plan 
ter.     He  succeeded  in  producing  a  reciprocal  attachment. 
They  were  married  with  the  consent  of  Powhatan.     The 
consequence  of  this  marriage  was  peace  with  her  father, 
and  with  all  the  tribes  who  stood  in  awe  of  his  power. 

29.  Rolfe  and  his  princess  made  a  voyage  to  England, 
where  she  was  received  by  the  king  and  queen  with  the 
attention  due  to  her  rank.     For  her  virtues,  and  her  dis 
interested  services,  she  was  universally  beloved  and  re 
spected.     She  died  when  about  to  return  to  America,  leav 
ing  one  son,  from  whom  are  descended  some  of  the  most 
respectable  families  in  Virginia. 

30.  Jn  1613,  captain  Arjral  was  sent,  with  a  naval  forrp. 


WRG1NIA,  *l' 

\ 

to  drive  the  French  from  the  settlements  they  had  begun 
in  Acadia,  which  were  considered  to  be  within  the  limits 
of  North  Virginia.  He  accomplished  the  object  of  the 
expedition,  and,  when  returning,  visited  a  Dutch  trading 
establishment  on  Hudson's  river,  which  was  also  within 
the  same  limits.  The  governor,  too  feeble  to  resist,  ac 
knowledged  himself  subject  to  the  king  of  England. 

31.  The  king,  in  his  instructions  given  at  the  time  of 
the  first  emigration  to  Jamestown,  directed  that  all  the 
land  should  be  owned  in  common,  and  that  the  produce  of 
the  labor  of  all  should  be  deposited  in  the  public  stores. 
In  such  circumstances  no  one  would  labor  with  the  same 
steadiness  and  animation  as  if  he,  and  he  alone,  was  to 
possess  and  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  industry.    A  different 
regulation  was  now  adopted.     To  each  inhabitant,  three 
acres  of  land  were  assigned  in  full  property,  and  he  was 
permitted  to  employ,  in  the  cultivation  of  it,  a  certain  por 
tion  of  his  time.     The  effects  of  this  alteration  were  im 
mediately  visible,  and  demonstrated  so  clearly  its  wisdom, 
that  soon  after  another  assignment  of  fifty  acres  was  made ; 
and  the  plan  of  working  in  a  common  field,  to  fill  the  public 
stores,  was  entirely  abandoned. 

32.  Since  the  year  1611,  the  colony  had  been  governed 
by  martial  law,  which  was  administered  by  deputy  gover 
nor  Argal,  with  so  much  rigor  as  to  excite  universal  dis 
content.    The  council  in  England,  listening  to  the  com 
plaints  of  the  Virginians,  appointed  Mr.  Yeardly  governor, 
and  instructed  him  to  inquire  into  and  redress  their  wrongs. 
He  arrived  in  April,  1619,  and  immediately,  to  the  great 
joy  of  the  inhabitants,  called  a  general  assembly  of  the 
colony.     It  met  at  Jamestown,  on  the  19th  of  June,  and 
was   composed  of  delegates   from  the   boroughs,   then 
amounting  to  seven.     They,  the  governor,  and  the  coun 
cil,  sat  and  deliberated  in  the  same  apartment,  and  acted 
as  one  body. 

33.  Emigrants  continued  to  arrive  frequently  from  Eng 
land,  but  nearly  all  were  men,  who  came  for  the  purpose 
o{  obtaining  wealth,  and  intended  eventually  to  return. 
With  such  views,  they  were  evidently  less  useful  to  the 
colony  than  if  they  should  be  induced  to  regard  it  as  their 
home,  and  as  the  abode  of  their  posterity.     To  produce 
this  desirable  attachment  to  the  country,  ninety  girls, 
young  and  uncorrupt,  were  sent  over  in  the  year  1620,  and 
sixty  more  in  the  subsequent  year,  and  immediately  sold 
TO  the  young  planters  as  wives.     The  price  was,  at  first, 


22  ,  VIRGINIA. 

one  hundred,  and  afterwards,  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds 
of  tobacco,  then  selling  at  three  shillings  the  pound :  and 
it  was  ordained,  that  debts,  contracted  for  wives,  should 
be  paid  in  preference  to  all  others. 

34.  About  the  same  time,  another  measure,  of  a  differ 
ent  character,  was  adopted.     The  company  were  ordered 
by  the  king  to  transport  to  Virginia  one  hundred  idle  and 
dissolute   persons,  then  in  custody  for  their  offences. 
They  were  distributed  through  the  colony,  and  employed 
as  laborers. 

35.  A  Dutch  vessel  also  brought  into  James  river  twenty 
Africans,  who  were   immediately  purchased  as  slaves. 
This  was  the  commencement,  in  the  English  American 
colonies,  of  a  traffic  abhorrent  to  humanity,  disgraceful  to 
civilization,  and  fixing  the  foulest  stain  upon  the  character 
of  the  age  and  people. 

36.  The  colony  was  now  in  the  full  tide  of  prosperity. 
Its  numbers  had  greatly  increased,  and  its  settlements 
were  widely  extended.    At  peace  with  the  Indians,  it  re 
posed  in  perfect  security,  and  enjoyed  without  alloy  all  the 
happiness  which  its  fortunate  situation  and  favorable  pros 
pects  afforded.     It  was  doomed  to  experience  a  reverse 
of  fortune,  sudden,  distressing,  and  terrible. 

37.  Powhatan,  the  friend  of  the  English,  was  dead. 
Opecancanough,  a  chief  endowed  with  all  those  qualities 
which  give  rank  and  reputation  to  an  Indian  warrior,  had 
succeeded  him  in  his  influence  and  power,  but  he  was  the 
secret  and  implacable  enemy  of  the  whites.    By  his  art 
and  eloquence,  he  united  all  the  neighbouring  tribes  in  the 
horrible  design  of  destroying  every  man,  woman,  and  child 
in  the  English  settlements. 

38.  The  plan  was  concerted  and  matured,  wTith  all  the 
secrecy  and  dissimulation  which  characterize  the  savages. 
While  intent  on  their  plot,  they  visited  the  settlements, 
lodged  in  the  houses,  bought  arms  of  the  English,  and  even 
borrowed  their  boats  to  enable  them  to  accomplish  their 
barbarous  purpose. 

39.  On  the  evening  before  the  fatal  day,  they  brought 
them  presents  of  game  ;  and  the  next  morning  came  freely 
among  them,  behaving  as  usual.     Suddenly,  precisely  at 
mid-day,  the  blow  fell,  at  the  same  instant,  upon  the  un 
suspecting  settlers ;  and  three  hundred  and  forty-seven  men, 
women,  and  children,  were  victims  to  savage  treachery 
and  cruelty.    The  massacre  would  have  been  more  ex 
tensive  fold  not  a  domesticated  Indian,  residing  in  one  ,of 


VIRGINIA."  aa 

the  villages,  revealed  the  plot  to  his  master,  whom  he  had 
been  solicited  to  murder.  Information  was  instantly  given 
to  some  of  the  nearest  settlements,  and  just  in  time  to 
save  them  from  the  calamity  which  fell  upon  the  others. 
4d.  The  horrid  spectacle  before  them  roused  the  Eng 
lish  from  repose  to  vengeance.  A  vindictive  and  extermi 
nating  war  succeeded.  The  whites  were  victorious,  de 
stroying  many  of  their  enemies,  and  obliging  the  remain 
der  to  retire  far  into  the  wilderness.  But  their  own  num 
ber  melted  away  before  the  miseries  of  war ;  their  settle 
ments  were  reduced  from  eighty  to  eight,  and  famine  again 
visited  them  with  its  afflicting  scourge.  In  1624,  out  of 
nine  thousand  persons,  who  had  been  sent  from  England, 
but  eighteen  hundred  existed  in  the  colony. 

41.  These  continual  misfortunes  attracted  the  attention 
of  king  James.     He  revoked  the  charter  which  he  had 
granted,  and  committed  the  management  of  all  the  affairs 
of  the  colony  to  a  governor  and  twelve  counsellors,  who 
were  to  be  appointed  by  the  king  and  to  be  guided  by  his 
instructions.     Of  these  instructions,  those  concerning  to 
bacco,  the  principal  article  exported  from  the  colony,  may 
be  taken  as  a  sample.     It  was  ordained  that  those  who 
raised  it  should  not  themselves  be  permitted  to  dispose  of 
it,  but  should  export  it  to  England,  and  deliver  it  to  certain 
designated  agents ;  and  they  alone  were  authorized  to  sell  it. 

42.  Under  such  arbitrary  regulations,  the  people  lived 
and  suffered,  until  the  year  1636,  when  Sir  John  Harvey 
held  the  office  of  governor.     He  was  haughty,  rapacious, 
unfeeling,  and  fitted,  by  his  disposition,  to  exercise  power 
in  the  true  spirit  of  his  instructions.     Inflamed  to  mad 
ness  by  his  oppressions,  the  Virginians,  in  a  fit  of  popular 
rago,  seized  and  sent  him  a  prisoner  to  England.     At  the 
Fame  time,  they  despatched  two  deputies  charged  to  re 
present  the  grievances  of  the  colony  and  the  governor's 
misconduct. 

43.  Charles  I,  who  was  then  king,  indignant  at  the 
.violent  proceeding,  received  the  deputies  sternly,  and  sent 
back  the  governor,  invested  with  all  his  former  powers. 
He  was,  however,  in  1639,  succeeded  by  Sir  William 
Berkeley,  who  was  instructed  again  to  allow  the  Virgini 
ans  to  elect  representatives.     Such  was  their  gratitude  to 
the  king  for  this  favor,  that  during  the  civil  wrars  between 
him  and  his  parliament,  they  were  faithful  to  the  royal 
cause,  and  continued  faithful  even  after  he  was  dethroned 
and  his  son  driven  into  exile. 


^  VIRGINIA. 

44.  The  parliament,  irritated  by  this  conduct  of  the 
Virginians,  sent  Sir  George  Ayscue,  in  1652,  with  a  pow 
erful  fleet,  to  reduce  them  to  submission.    Berkeley,  with 
more  spirit  than  prudence,  opposed  this  force ;  but  after 
making  a  gallant  resistance,  he  was  obliged  to  yield.    He 
obtained  the  most  favorable  terms  for  the  colony,  but  ask 
ed  no  stipulations  in  his  own  fevor.     Withdrawing  to  a 
retired  situation,  he  lived  beloved  and  respected  by  the 
people. 

45.  For  nine  years  afterwards,  governors  appointed  by 
Cromwell,  continued  to  preside  over  the  colony.     But  the 
predilection  for  royalty,  which  the  inhabitants  had  dis 
played,  was  remembered,  and  they  were  less  favored  than 
those  of  New-England,  wrho,  like  the  predominant  party 
in  Great  Britain,  were  republicans  in  politics,  and  puritans 
in  religion.     Arbitrary  restrictions  upon  the  commerce  of 
Virginia  checked  its  prosperity,  and  produced  discontent. 
At  length,  the  sudden  death  of  governor  Matthews  afford 
ed,  to  the  adherents  of  the  royal  cause,  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity,  which  they  gladly  seized,  to  proclaim  Charles  II, 
and  to  invite  Berkeley  to  resume  the  authority  of  gover 
nor.     He  consented,  requiring  only  their  solemn  promise 
to  hazard  their  lives  and  fortunes  in-  supporting  the  cause 
they  had  espoused. 

46.  At  this  period,  no  intelligence  had  been  received  of 
the  death  of  Cromwell.     Fortunately  for  the  colony,  that 
event  happened  soon  after ;  the  king  whom  they  had  pro 
claimed  was  restored  to  the  thjone ;  and  Virginia  for  a  long 
time  boasted,  that  she  was  the  last  of  the  British  domi 
nions  that  submitted  to  Cromwell,  and  the  first  that  re 
turned  to  her  allegiance. 

47.  Charles  II  confirmed    Sir  William   Berkeley '  in 
the  office  of  governor;  but  with  characteristic  ingrati 
tude,  he  neglected  the  interests  of  the  colony,  and  even 
imposed  additional  restrictions  upon  its  commerce.     He 
also  granted  to  his  favorites  large  tracts  of  land  which 
belonged  to  the  colony.     These  injuries,  inflicted  by  a 
hand  which  ought  to  have  bestowed  favors,  wounded  the 
feelings  of  the  Virginians,  and  produced  murmurs  and  com 
plaints.     No  relief  being  granted,  an^open  and  turbulent 
insurrection  was  the  consequence. 

48.  At  the  head  of  the  insurgents  was  Nathaniel  Bacon. 
He  wras  a  lawyer,  educated  in  London,  and  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  council,  a  short  time  after  his  emigration 
to  Virginia.    He  was  young,  bold,  ambitious ;  his  person 


VIRGINIA.  25 

engaging,  and  his  elocution  commanding.  He  harangued 
the  citizens  upon  their  grievances ;  inflamed  their  resent 
ment  against  their  rulers ;  declaimed  particularly  against 
the  languor  with  which  the  war,  then  existing  with  the 
Indians,  had  heen  conducted;  and  such  was  the  effect  of  his 
representations,  that  he  was  elected  general  hy  the  people. 
40.  He  applied  to  the  governor  for  a  commission  con 
firming  this  election,  and  offered  instantly  to  march,  at  the 
head  of  the  citizens,  against  the  savages.  Sir  William 
indignantly  refused,  and  issued  a  proclamation  command 
ing  the  insurgents  to  disperse.  Bacon  had  advanced  too 
far  to  recede  with  honor  or  safety.  He  hastened,  at  the 
head  of  six  hundred  armed  followers,  to  Jamestown,  sur 
rounded  the  house  where  the  governor  and  council  were 
assembled,  and  repeated  his  demand. 

50.  The  council,  intimidated  by  the  threats  of  the  en 
raged  multitude,  hastily  prepared  a  commission,  and,  by 
their  entreaties,  prevailed  on  the  governor  to  sign  it.     Ba 
con  arid  his  troops,  then  began  their  march  against  the 
Indians.     But  the  council,  when  relieved  from  their  fears, 
declared  the  commission  void,  and  proclaimed  him  a  rebel. 
Enraged  at  this  conduct,  he  instantly  returned,  with  all 
his  forces,  to  Jamestown.     The  governor  tied,  the  council 
dispersed,  and  he  found  himself  in  possession  of  supreme 
power.     To  give  it  some  show  of  legality,  he  called  toge- 
iher  the  most  considerable  gentlemen  in  the  colony,  who 
bound  themselves  by  oath  to  support  his  authority. 

51.  Soma  districts  remained  faithful  to  Berkeley,  who 
collected  forces,  and  made  inroads  into  those  sections 
where  Bacon's  authority  was  recognised.     The  latter  re 
taliated,  and  for  some  months,  a  civil  war,  with  all  its 
peculiar  horrors,  raged  in  Virginia.  Jamestown  was  burned, 
and  some  of  the  finest  and  best  cultivated  districts  were 
laid  waste. 

52.  King  Charles,  informed  of  the  situation  of  affairs, 
despatched  a  body  of  troops  to  the  assistance  of  Berkeley. 
Bacon  and  his  followers,  unintimidated  by  their  approach, 
determined  to  oppose  them ;  but  when  prepared  to  tako 
the  field,  this  daring  and  successful  leader,  having  exer 
cised  the  supreme  power  for  seven  months,  sickened  and 
^\ed;  and  no  person  being  found  among  the  insurgents 
qualified  to  supply  his  place,  as  the  general  of  an  army  or 
as  a  rvrjular  leader,  they  laid  down  their  arms  and  dis 
persed. 

53.  Governor   Berkeley  again  assumed  the  supremo 


L-<>  MASSACHUSETTS, 

authority,  and  finding  the  rebels  in  his  power,  pursued  them 
with  unsparing  rigor.  Many  were  tried  by  courts  martial, 
and  executed.  The  assembly  interfered,  praying  him  to 
stop  the  work  of  death,  and  enacted  laws  which  gradually 
restored  tranquillity.  Soon  after,  Sir  William  returned  to 
England,  and  his  authority  devolved  on  colonel  Jeffreys, 
the  lieutenant-governor.  Under  his  administration,  peace 
was  concluded  with  the  Indians ;  and  notwithstanding  the 
tyrannical  regulations  of  the  king,  and  the  oppressive  re 
strictions  upon  commerce,  the  colony  increased  in  wealth 
and  population.  In  the  year  1688,  the  number  of  inhabit 
ants  exceeded  60,000. 

54.  Between  this  period  and  the  commencement  of  tlie 
French  war  of  1756,  an  account  of  which  will  be  found  in 
a  subsequent  chapter,  but  few  events  occurred  in  tho 
colony  of  sufficient  importance  to  find  a  place  in  history. 
Its  position,  remote  from  the  settlements  of  the  French  in 
Canada,  and  of  the  Spaniards  in  Florida,  was  favorable  to 
its  quiet.     New-England  and  New- York,  on  the  one  hand, 
Georgia  and  the  Carolinas  on  the  other,  protected  it  from 
savage  incursions.     Its  affairs  were  administered  by  gov 
ernors  appointed  by  the  king,  and  representatives  chosen 
by  the  people. 

55.  The  laudable  efforts  of  these  representatives,  to  ar 
rest  the  progress  of  slavery  in  the  colony,  ought  not  to  b" 
passed  over  in  silence.     Convinced  of  its  inhumanity,  and 
foreseeing  the  dreadful  evils  which  it  must  produce,  they 
often  passed  laws  prohibiting  the  importation  of  slaves ; 
but  those  who  were  higher  in  authority,  yielding  to  the 
wishes  of  merchants  engaged  in  the  abominable  traffic, 
persisted,  with  criminal  obstinacy,  in  withholding  their 
assent.     England,  not  America,  is   responsible  for  tho 
wretchedness,  which  her  kings  and   her  officers   were 
often  importuned,  but  refused,  to  avert. 


CHAPTER  II. 
MASSACHUSETTS. 

OF  the  two  companies  incorporated  by  king  James,  an 
account  of  the  proceedings  and  dissolution  of  one,  and  a 
history  of  the  colony  it  founded,  have  been  given  in  tho 
preceding  chapter.  To  the  other,  or  Plymouth  Company, 


MASSACHUSETTS.  *tf 

was  assigned  a  portion  of  the  American  continent  lying 
farther  to  the  north,  and  at  that  time  called  North  Virginia. 

2.  The  latter,  in  1606,  the  year  in  which  both  were  in 
corporated,  despatched  a  ship  to  make  discoveries  within 
the  limits  of  its  grant.  Before  the  voyage  was  completed, 
she  was  captured  by  the  Spaniards.  Another  ship,  after 
wards  sent  for  the  same  purpose,  returned  with  such  a  fa 
vorable  account  of  the  territory  that  the  company  was  en 
couraged  to  proceed  in  the  undertaking. 

3;  The  next  year,  forty-five  men  were  sent  over  and  left 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Kermebec.  In  1608,  dispirited 
by  the  hardships  they  had  endured,  they  returned  to  Eng 
land  in  ships  which  had  brought  them  provisions  and  suc 
cors.  The  company,  disappointed  and  dissatisfied,  desisted 
for  a  while  from  all  attempts  to  effect  a  settlement. 

4.  In  1614,  John  Smith,  the  same  who  acted  a  conspi 
cuous  part  in  the  settlement  of  Virginia,  made  a  voyage 
to  this  northern  country,  touching  first  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Kennebec.     Sailing  thence,  in  an  open  boat,  he  surveyed 
the  coast  to  the  southern  boundary  of  Massachusetts  bay. 
The  northern  promontory  he  named  Tragabigzanda,  in  ho 
nor  of  the  Turkish  lady  to  whom  he  had  formerly  been  a 
slave.     The  three  small  islands,  lying  near  the  head  of 
the  promontory,  he  called  the  Three  Turks'  Heads,  iu 
memory  of  his  victory  over  the  three  Turkish  champions. 
Both  appellations  have  been  changed  for  others.     On  his 
return  to  England,  he  presented  to  prince  Charles  a  map 
of  the  country,  and  gave  him  such  a  glowing  description 
of  its  beauty  and  excellence,  that  he,  in  the  warmth  of  his 
admiration,  declared  it  should  bear  the  name  of  NEAV- 
EXGLAND. 

5.  Smith  afterwards  made  an  attempt  to  transport  a  co- 
Jouy  thither,  which  was  unsuccessful ;  and  New-England 
might  long  have  remained  the  abode  of  wild  beasts  and 
savages  only,  had  not  motives,  more  powerful  than  the 
love  of  gain  or  of  perilous  adventures,  impelled  men,  dif 
fering  from  all  others  who  had  been  the  founders  of  colo 
nies,  to  select  it  as  the  place  of  their  residence. 

6.  In  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century,  James 
I  asserted  and  maintained  a   despotic   power  over  tho 
consciences  of  his  English  subjects.     All  who  presumed 
to  dissent   from  the  creed  which  ho   had  adopted  wero 
persecuted  witli  extreme  rigor.     In  that  age,  the  maxim 
\yas  avowed  by  ecclesiastics  of  all  sects  as  well  as  poll- 
ti.rinnjs.that  un?fonn.itv  ;n  rHiTiop.  vrns  f"^o?!t  :r>l  to   '' 


'MASSACHUSETTS. 

repose  of  society,  and  that  it  was  therefore  the  right  and 
duty  of  every  sovereign  to  preserve  it  in  his  dominions,  by 
the  exercise  of  all  his  powers  of  restraint  and  punishment. 

7.  But  free  inquiry  had  lately  received  such  an  impulse 
from  the  success  of  Luther  and  the  other  reformers,  that 
the  civil  authority  was  unable  to  arrest  or  control  it.    Va 
rious  sects  arose,  dissenting  'from  the  established  religion, 
and  all  distinguished  by  their  democratic  tenets  respecting 
church  government.     Persecuted  at  home,  a  small  num 
ber,  belonging  to  the  sect  which  were  afterwards  called 
Independents,  removed  to  Leyden,  in  Holland,  where  they 
formed  a  distinct  society  under  the  care  of  their  pastor, 
the  Rev.  John  Robinson.     By  their  rigid  virtues  and  ex 
emplary  deportment,  they  acquired  the  respect  of  the  ma 
gistrates  and  citizens. 

8.  After  residing  several  years  in  that  city,  various  con 
siderations  induced  them  to  resolve  to  leave  it.     In  1618, 

.  they  applied  to  the  London,  or  South  Virginia,  Company, 
for  a  grant  of  land  in  America ;  and  to  ensure  success, 
they  observed,  "  that  they  were  well  weaned  from  the  de 
licate  milk  of  the  mother  country,  and  inured  to  the  diffi 
culties  of  a  strange  land ;  that  they  were  knit  together  by 
a  strict  and  sacred  bond,  by  virtue  of  which  they  held 
themselves  bound  to  take  care  of  the  good  of  each  other 
and  of  the  whole ;  that  it  was  not  with  them  as  with  other 
men,  whom  small  things  could  discourage,  or  small  dis 
contents  cause  to  wish  themselves  home  again." 

9.  A  grant  was  obtained,  and  in  September,  1620,  apart 
of  them  set  sail  for  Hudson's  river ;  but  the  master  of  the 
ship,  bribed,  it  is  said,  by  the  Dutch,  who  claimed  the 
sole  right  of  trading  in  that  quarter,  carried  them  farther 
north,  and  the  first  land  they  discovered  was  Cape  Cod. 
This,  they  were  aware,  was  beyond  the  limits  of  tiie  Lon 
don  Company,  but  it  was  now  November,  and  too  late  in 
the  season  to  put  again  to  sea.     They  therefore  determined 
to  land  at  the  first  place  they  could  find  suitable  for  a  set 
tlement. 

10.  Before  leaving  the  ship,  the  heads  of  families  and 
freemen,  forty-one  in  number,  signed  a  solemn  covenant, 
combining  themselves  into  a  body  politic  for  the  purpose 
of  making  equal  laws  for  the  general  good.     They  ordained 
that  a  governor  and  assistants  should  be  annually  chosen, 
but  the  sovereign  power  remained  in  the  whole  body  of 
freemen.     John  Carver  was  elected  governor. 

11.  On  I>JP  11th  of  IV-rTYiber.  fO«  S.1  ihey  brded  on  w 


MASSACHUSETTS.  29 

desolate  coast.  Sterile  sands  and  gloomy  forests  were  the 
only  objects  that  met  their  view.  The  severity  of  the 
cold,  greater  than  they  had  ever  experienced,  admonished 
them  to  seek  protection  against  it ;  and  their  first  employ 
ment  was  the  erection  of  huts  in  the  most  convenient  and 
sheltered  situations.  In  these  miserable  abodes  they 
passed  the  winter,  those  at  least  who  survived  it.  By  the 
succeeding  spring,  one  half  of  their  number  had  perished, 
exhausted  by  continual  suffering,  and  by  the  privation  of 
every  worldly  comfort  which  they  had  been  accustomed 
to  enjoy. 

12.  Their  settlement  was  found  to  be  within  the  limits 
of  the  Plymouth  company  from  which  they  solicited  and 
obtained  a  grant  of  land ;  but  they  were  never  incorporated 
by  the  king.     They  called  the   place   New-Plymouth. 
They  often   received   small  additions  to  their  number, 
which,  in  1630,  amounted  to  three  hundred. 

13.  In  the  mean  time,  the  same  causes  that  drove  Mr. 
Robinson  and  his  congregation  from  England  had  continued 
to  operate.     A  class  of  dissenters,  denominated  puritans 
from  the  austerity  of  their  manners,  and  from  their  claims 
to  superior  purity  in  worship  and  discipline,  had  become 
numerous ;  and  as,  by  their  new  mode  of  worship,  they 
violated  the  laws  of  the  land,  they  were  prosecuted  as  crim 
inals.     Their  faith  was  confirmed  and  their  zeal  increased 
by  their  sufferings;  and  having  learned  that  complete  re 
ligious  freedom  was  enjoyed  at  New-Pi ymouth,  in  America, 
they  naturally  "directed  their  thoughts  to  that  country,  as  a 
secure  asylum  from  persecution. 

14.  In  1627,  an  association  of  puritans,  residing  at  Dor 
chester  and  the  vicinity,  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
planting  a  colony  in  New-England,  to  which  they  and  their 
brethren  might  repair,  and,  in  seclusion  and  safety,  wor 
ship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of  conscience.     They 
obtained  from  the  Plymouth  Company,  a  grant  of  the  ter 
ritory,  which  now  constitutes  a  part  of  the  state  of  Mas 
sachusetts,  and  sent  over,  under  the  direction  of  John  En- 
dicott,  a  small  number  of  people,  to  begin  a  plantation. 
These,  in  September,  landed  at  a  place  called,  by  the  In 
dians,  Naumkeak,  and,  by  themselves,  Salem. 

15.  The  next  year,  they  obtained  a  charter  from  the 
crown,  by  which  the  usual  powers  of  a  corporation  were 
conferred  upon  the  grantees,  by  the  name  of  the  "  Governor 
and  Company  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  New-England." 
It  ordained,  that  the  officers  of  the  company  should  be  a, 

o  « 


:jo  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Governor,  a  deputy  Governor,  and  eighteen  assistants,  u* 
be  named,  in  the  first  instance,  by  the  crown,  and  after 
wards  elected  by  the  corporation.  Four  stated  meetings 
of  all  the  members  were  to  be  held  annually,  under  the 
denomination  of  the  General  Court,  at  which  they  were 
authorised  to  admit  freemen  or  members,  and  to  make 
j^uch  ordinances  or  laws,  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of 
England,  as  they  might  deem  expedient.  The  colonists, 
and  their  descendants,  were  declared  to  be  entitled  to  all 
the  rights  of  natural  born  English  subjects. 

16.  At  a  General  Court,  held  at  London,  in  1029,  the 
officers  prescribed  by  the  charter,  were  elected,  and  seve 
ral  ordinances  were  adopted  for  the  government  of  the 
-company.     Three  hundred  people  were  sent  over,  of  whom 
one  hundred,  dissatisfied  with  the  situation  of  Salem,  re 
moved  to  Charlestown.     Religion  was  the  first  object  oi* 
their  care  in  the  country  they  had  adopted.     A  religious 
covenant  was  agreed  upon,  and  a  confession  of  faith  drawn 
up,  to  which  their  assent  was  given.    Pastors  were  chosen. 
:ir;d  were,  from  necessity,  installed  into  their  sacred  offices 
by  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  the  brethren. 

17.  The  ensuing  winter  was  a  period  of  uncommon  suf 
fering  and  sickness.     The  cold  was  intense ;  the  houses 
were  unfinished ;  the  provisions  were  insufficient  and  un 
wholesome.      Before   spring,  nearly  half  their   number 
perished,  "  lamenting  that  they  could  not  live  to  see  the. 
]i:-ing  glories  of  the  faithful." 

18.  These  calamities  had  some  effect  in  deterring  others 
from  joining  them;  but  the  consideration  that  the  general 
I'ourts  were  held,  the  officers  elected,  and  the  laws  enacted, 
in  London,  had  still  greater  influence.     It.  did  not  comport 
with  the  views  and  feelings  of  those  who  disdained  to 
submit  to  authority  in  matters  of  faith,  to  consent  to  re 
move  to  the  new  world,  and  there  be  governed  by  laws 
which  they  could  have  no  part  in  enacting.     Representa 
tions  to  this  effect  were  made  to  the  company,  who  r--:-" 
solved  that  the  government  and  patent  should  be  removed 
to  Massachusetts. 

19.  Thiswise  resolution  gave  such  encouragement  to 
emigration,  that,  in  1630,  more  than  fifteen  hundred  per 
sons  came  over,  and  founded  Boston  and  several  adjacent 
towns.     Of  these  persons,  all  were  respectable,  and  many 
were  from  illustrious  and  noble  families.     Having  been 
accustomed  to  a  life  of  ease  and  enjoyment,  their  sufferings, 
the  firf-t  v^r,  \w&  grrerrr.  and  proved  fatal  to  many: 


.MASSACHUSETTS.  tfj. 

others,  to  the  lady  Arabella,  who,  to  use  the  words  of  an 
early  historian  of  the  country,  "  came  from  a  paradise  of 
plenty  and  pleasure,  in  the  family  of  a  noble  earl,  into  a 
wilderness  of  wants  ;  and  although  celebrated  for  her  many 
virtues,  yet  was  not  ablel'o  encounter  the  adversity  she 
was  surrounded  with ;  and,  in  about  a  month  after  her  ar 
rival,  she  ended  her  days  at  Salem,  where  she  first  land- 
c-d."  Mr.  Johnson,  her  husband,  overcome  with  grief, 
survived  her  but  a  short  time. 

20.  Before  December,  two  hundred  perished.     On  the 
24th  of  that  month,  the  cold  became  intense.^   Such  a 
'Christmas-eve  they  had  never  before  known.     Yet  the  in 
clemency  of  the  weather  continued  to  increase.     They 
were  almost  destitute  of  provisions,  and  many  were  obliged 
to  subsist  on  clams,  muscles,  and  other  shell  fish,  with 
nuts  and  acorns  instead  of  bread.     Many  more  died;  but 
in  this  extremity,  that  ardor  of  conviction  which  com 
pelled  them  to  emigrate,  remained  in  full  force,  and  they 
met,  with  a  firm,  unshaken  spirit,  the  calamities  which 
assailed  them. 

21.  One  great  object  of  the  puritans,  in  retiring  to  the 
unoccupied  regions  of  New-England,  was  the  establish 
ment  of  a  religious  commonwealth,  as  nearly  upon  the 
model  of  that  of  the  Jews  as  the  difference  of  circum 
stances  would   admit.     To  accomplish  this  object,  they 
deemed  it  necessary,  and  at  a  general  court,  held  in  1631, 
they  ordained,  that  none  but  those  who  had  made  a  pro 
fession  of  religion,  and   had  become  members  of  some 
church,  should  be  admitted  members  of  the  corporation,  or 
enjoy  the  privilege  of  voting. 

22.  This  law  has  been  too  severely  censured  by  those 
who  have  lived  in  more  liberal  and  enlightened  times.     It 
contradicted  none  of  the  professions  of  the  puritans.     It 
was  in  strict  accordance  with  the  avowed  motives  of  their 
^migration.     It  exhibited  less  intolerance  than  was  theii 
displayed  by  every  other  nation.     It  violated  the  rights  of 
no  one,  for  no  one  could  claim  a  right  to  corne  into  the 
territory  which  they  had  purchased.     And  it  was  doubtless 
essential,  siKih  was  then  the  temper  of  men's  minds,  to 
the  repose  of  their  little  society. 

33.  The  colonists  had  frequently  been  alarmed,  but  nev 
er  yet  attacked,  by  the  Indians.  These  were  not,  in  fact, 
in  a  condition  to  do  much  injury.  A  few  years  before  the 
arrival  of  the  English,  a  contagious  distemper  swept  away 
*.  srra.t  n'fmber.  almost  oxterminaling  several  tribes.  In 


3x*  MASSACHUSETTS. 

If»33,  the  small  pox  destroyed  many  who  had  survived  the 
pestilence ;  and  the  territory,  contiguous  to  the  first  set 
tlements  of  the  English,  seemed  to  have  been  providen 
tially  made  vacant  for  their  reception.  As  an  attack  from 
tiiis  quarter  was,  however,  possible,  and  as  the  French, 
who  had  a  trading  establishment  at  Acadia,  had  discovered 
some  symptoms  of  hostility,  it  was  thought  advisable  to 
erect  fortifications  at  Boston,  and  other  places,  and  to  open 
a  correspondence  with  their  neighbours  at  New-Plymouth. 

24.  So  far  from  the  capital  had  the  settlements  extend 
ed,  that  it  was  iound  extremely  inconvenient  for  all  the 
freemen   to  assemble  and  transact   the  necessary  public 
business.     In  1031,  the  mode  of  legislation  was  altered, 
by  the  general  consent  of  the  towns.     They  delegated  to 
twenty-four  representatives  the  authority  granted,  by  the 
charter,  to  the  whole  body  of  freemen.     This  important 
alteration  was  adopted  the  more  readily,  as  the  emigrants 
had  been  familiar,  in  their  native  country,  with  the  repre 
sentative  system.      The  appellation  of  General  Court, 
which  had  been  applied  to  all  the  freemen  when  assembled, 
was  now  transferred  to  their  representatives. 

25.  In  the  snme  year,  i!o<:er  Williams,  the  minister  of 
Salem,  having  occasioned  disturbances,  by  advancing  ten 
ets  considered  not  only  heretical  but  seditious,  and  being 
found  irreclaimable,  was  ordered  to  leave  the  colony.     He 
retired  to  Rehohoth,  which  was  then  within  the  jurisdic 
tion  of  Plymouth. 

26.  In  1G35,  Massachusetts  received  from  England  a 
large  number  of  inhabitants,  and  among  them  came  two 
who  afterwards  acted  conspicuous  parts  in  the  affairs  of 
their  native  country.     One  was  Hugh  Peters,  who  was 
subsequently  a  chaplain  of  Oliver  Cromwell ;  the  other  was 
Mr.  Vane,  afterwards  Sir  Henry  Vane.    The  latter  was  but 
twenty-five  years  of  age ;  but  by  his  show  of  great  humility, 
his  grave  and  solemn  deportment,  and  his  ardent  profes 
sions  of  attachment  to  liberty,  he  stole  the  hearts  of  the 
puritans,  and,  the  year  after  his  arrival,  was  made  governor 
of  the  colony. 

£7.  His  popularity,  however,  wras  transient.  During 
his  administration,  the  celebrated  Mrs.  Hutchinson,  a 
woman  who  was  distinguished  for  her  eloquence,  and  had 
imbibed  the  enthusiasm  <vf  the  age,  instituted  weekly 
meetings  for  persons  of  her  own  sex,  in  which  she  com 
mented  on  the  sermons  of  the  preceding  Sunday,  and  ad 
vanced  certain  mystical  and  extravagant  doctrines.  These 


.MASSACHUSETTS.  33 

spread  rapidly  among  the  people,  and  many  became  con 
verts. 

28.  Governor  Vane,  with  Mr.  Cotton  and  Mr.  Wheel 
wright,  two  distinguished  clergymen,  embraced  them  with 
ardor ;  but  lieutenant  governor  Winihrop,  and  a  majority 
of  the  churches,  deemed  them  heretical  and   seditious. 
Great  excitement  was  produced  among  the  people ;  many 
conferences  were  held;  public  fasts  were  appointed;  a 
general  synod  was  summoned ;  and  after  much  intemper 
ate  discussion,  her  opinions  were  determined  to  be  erro 
neous,  and  she  and  some  of  her  adherents  were  banished 
from  the  colony. 

29.  Not  being  again  chosen  governor,  Vane  returned  in 
ilisgust  to  England,  engaged  in  the  civil  wars,  which  soon 
after  afflicted  that  country,  sustained  high  offices  in  the 
republican  party,  and,  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II, 
was  accused  of  high  treason,  convicted  and  executed. 
Peters  pursued  a  similar  career,  and  met  with  the  same  fate. 

30.  In  such  high  repute,  at  this  time,  were  the  settle 
ments  in  Massachusetts,  that  other  Englishmen,  still  more 
conspicuous,  had  determined  to  leave  their  native  land, 
that  they  might  enjoy,  in  a  desert,  the  civil  and  religious 
liberty  which  was  denied  them  at  home.     Among  these 
were  Mr.   Ilambden,  Sir   Arthur  Haselrig,  and   Oliver 
Cromwell,  whom  king  Charles,  by  express  order,  detained, 
when  on  the  point  of  embarking.     Little  did  he  imagine 
t  hat,  by  this  act  of  arbitrary  power,  he  kept  within  his 
kingdom  those  restless  votaries  of  freedom,  who  were  des 
tined  to  overturn  his  throne,  and  bring  his  head  to  the  block. 

#1.-  By  the  settlement  of  Massachusetts,  the  attention 
•of  emigrants  was  diverted  from  the  colony  of  Plymouth, 
v/here  the  soil  was  less  fertile.  It  nevertheless  continued 
to  increase,  although  slowly,  in  population.  In  1633,  the 
government  of  that  colony  built  a  trading  house,  near  Hart 
ford,  which  was  the  first  building  erected  within  the  boun 
daries  of  Connecticut.  Soon  after,  many  persons  repaired 
1  hither  from  Massachusetts.  In  1 636,  Roger  Williams  laid 
J  he  foundation  of  Rhode  Island.  Subsequently,  New-Hamp 
shire  and  New-Haven  were  founded,  which  increased  to 
live  the  number  of  colonies  in  New-England. 

32.  The  rapid  progress  of  the  English  settlements,  ex 
cited  the  jealousy  of  the  natives.  They  had  welcomed, 
vriliiout  fear,  the  emigrants  who  first  landed,  not  antici- 
4iHti:»cf  t}}(-}-  fiir !,'!>•*  PlMHfoachments.  The  experience  of  ji 


^4  MASSACHUSETTS. 

few  years  convinced  tliem  that  they  must  either  extermi 
nate  these  invaders  of  their  country,  or  be  themselves  ex 
terminated. 

33.  Within  the  boundaries  of  Rhode  Island  and  Con 
necticut,  lived  two  warlike  tribes,  the  Pequods  and  Nar- 
ragarisets.     The  former  were  hostile,  the  latter  friendly, 
to  the  whites.     Between  the  two  tribes  un  inveterate  en 
mity  existed ;  but  the  more  sagacious  and  politic  Pequods 
proposed  that  all  animosities  should  be  forgotten,  and  their 
united  strength  directed  against  their  invaders,  before  they 
had  become  too  strong  to  be  resisted.     At  first  the  Narra- 
gansets  wavered,  but  their  hatred  of  the  Pequods  over 
powered  the  suggestions  of  policy.     They  disclosed  the 
proposal  to  the  English,  and  invited  them  to  join  in  a  war 
against  their  common  enemy. 

34.  The  colonies  were  roused  to  a  sense  of  their  dan 
ger.    In  1637,  Massachusetts,  Plymouth,  and  Connecticut, 
agreed  to  unite  their  forces,  and  attempt  the  entire  de 
struction  of  the  Pequods.     Captain  Mason,  with  eighty 
men,  principally  from  Connecticut,  and  three  hundred 
friendly  Indians,  was  immediately  sent  into  the  country 
of  the  enemy.     Early  in  the  morning  of  the  2.6th  of  May, 
he  attacked  one  of  the  principal  villages,  which  had  been 
surrounded  with  pallisades.     The  resistance  was  brave 
and  obstinate,  and  the  issue  of  the  battle  for  some  time 
doubtful ;  but  the  whites,  forcing  their  way  into  the  en 
closure,  set  fire  to  the  wigwams,  and  then,  retreating  a 
short  distance,  surrounded  the  town.     Many  of  the  In 
dians  perished  in  the  flames ;  others  were  shot,  in  their 
attempts  to  flee.     Of  five  or  six  hundred,  within  the  en 
closure,  but  few  escaped.     The  English  troops,  of  whom 
two  were  killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  returned  in  triumph 
to  Hartford. 

35.  In  June,  another  body  of  troops,  principally  from 
Massachusetts,  inarched  into  the  enemy's  country,  sur 
rounded  a  swamp,  into  which  a  party  of  them  had  retired, 
and  took  eighty  captive.     Some  escaping,  they  were  pur 
sued  to  another  swamp,  situated  near  New-Haven,  where 
the  whole  strength  of  the  tribe  was  collected.     This  was, 
in  like  manner,  surrounded ;  a  sharp  contest  ensued ;  but 
the  whites  were  again  victorious.     Two  hundred  Pequods 
were  killed  c:  mede  prisoners.     The  remainder  lied  to  the 
country  of  tn«  Mohawks.     The  brilliant  success  of  thu 
English,  in  this  first  and  short  war  with  the  natives,  s^.ve 


MASSACH  U  "SETTS.  35 

the  neighboring  tribes  such  an  exalted  idea  of  their 
prowess,  that,  for  nearly  forty  years,  they  were  neither 
attacked  nor  molested. 

36.  Ten  years  had  now  elapsed  since  the  first  settle- 
merit  was  made  at  Salem.     It  has  been  computed  that, 
within  that  time,  twenty-one  thousand  persons  arrived  in 
Massachusetts.     The  dissenters  in  England  having  ob 
tained  the  ascendency  in  the  government,  all  motives  for 
emigration  ceased ;  and  it  is  supposed  that,  for  many  years 
afterwards,  more  persons  returned  to  England,  than  came 
•from  England  to  the  colonies. 

37.  Such,  however,  were  the  character  and  virtues  of 
the  emigrants;  such  the  power  over  difficulties  which 
their  resolute  minds,  and  bodies  hardened  by  labor,  had 
imparted  to  them,  that  they  continued  to  increase,  with 
astonishing  rapidity,  in  wealth  and  numbers.     And  a  vote 
of  the  house  of  commons,  stating  that  "  the  plantations  in 
New-England  had  had  good  and  prosperous  success,  with 
out  any  public  charge  to  the  state,"  is  quoted,  by  a  historian 
of  those  times,  as  an   honorable  testimony  of  the  high 
merit  of  the  colonists. 

38.  Circumstances  and  events  had  already  impressed  a 
character  upon  them,  which,  though  softened  in  its  worst 
features  by  the  progress  of  refinement,  still  distinguishes 
their  descendants.     Persecution  made  them  bigots ;  piety 
made  them  moral ;  poverty  made  them,  frugal ;  incessant 
toil  made  them  hardy  and  robust ;  dreary  solitudes  made 
them  gloomy  and  superstitious ;  their  numerous  clergy  and 
vrell  educated  leaders,  made  them  venerate  literature  and 
the  sciences. 

39.  Four  of  the  New-England  colonies.,  Massachusetts, 
Connecticut,  Plymouth,  and  New-Haven,  apprehending 
danger  from  the  Indians,  from  the  Dutch,  at  New- York, 
and  from  the  French,  at  Acadia,  formed,  in  1043,  a  firm  and 
perpetual  league,  offensive  and  defensive.     By  the  articles 
of  this  league,  each  colony  was  to  appoint  two  commission 
ers,  who  were  to  assemble,  by  rotation,  in  the  respective 
colonies,  and  were  empowered  to  enact  ordinances  of  general 
concern;  and,  in  case  of  invasion,  each  colony  was  bound, 
upon  the  application  of  three  magistrates  of  the  invaded 
colony,  to  furnish  a  stipulated  proportion  of  men  and  money. 

40.  Strengthened  by  this  league,  the  colonies  were  re 
spected  by  their  civilized  and  savage  neighbors.     With 
the  French,  under  D'Aulney,  Massachusetts  had  a  long 
and  troublesome  dispute;  which  — •  adjusted,  in  1644,  ty 


•S&  MASSACHUSETTS. 

a  treaty  made  by  governor  Endicott,  and  afterwards  ratified 
by  the  commissioners. 

41.  When  representatives  were  first  chosen,  they  sat 
and  voted  in  the  same  chamber  with  the  assistants.     In 
1635,  when  Mr.  Hooker  applied  for  permission  to  form  a 
settlement  on  Connecticut  river,  a  majority  of  the  assist 
ants  voted  against  granting  permission;  but  a  majority  ot" 
the  whole  assembly  in  favor  of  it.     The  representatives 
contended  that  a  majority  of  the  assistants  was  not  neces 
sary,  and  that  the  vote  had  passed  in  the  affirmative. 
The  assistants  claimed  to  be  a  distinct  branch  of  the  legis 
lature,  and  contended  that  it  had  passed  in  the  negative. 

42.  No  provision  having  been  made  for  a  case  of  this 
kind,  an  adjournment,  for  a  week,  tock  place ;  a  public  last 
was  appointed,  and  the  divine  direction  implored  in  all  the 
congregations.     When  the  assembly  again  met.  a  sermon 
was  preached,  by  Mr.  Cotton,  which  induced  the  repre 
sentatives  to  yield  to  the  claim  of  the  assistants.     In  164-1, 
the  dispute  was  renewed,  and  the  assistants  were  again 
victorious.     The  representatives  then  proposed  that'  the 
two  classes  should  sit  apart,  and  form  distinct  bodies,  and 
in  this  proposition  the  assistants  concurred* 

43.  The  contest  between  the  king  and  parliament,  at 
length  resulted  in  open  war;  and  the  New- England  colo 
nies,  actuated  by  the  same  feeling  as  the  puritans  in  Eng 
land,  embraced,  with  ardor,  the  cause  of  the  latter.     The 
parliament  rewarded  this  attachment,  by  exempting  them 
from  all  taxes ;  and  when  the  supreme  authority  devolved 
upon  Cromwell,  as  protector  of  the  liberties  of  England, 
they  found  in  him  a  friend  no  less  sincere  and  zealous. 

44.  After  the  conquest  of  Ireland,  he  invited  them  to 
return  and  settle  in  that  country ;  and,  subsequently,  having 
conquered  Jamaica,  he  endeavored  to  persuade  them  to 
remove  to  that  fertile  island,  and  more  genial  climate.    But 
his  arguments  and  solicitations  were  unavailing.     They 
enjoyed,  in  their  .present  abode,  complete  religious  free 
dom,  and  that  privilege  they  were  unwilling  to  hazard  in 
pursuit  of  advantages  less  essential  to  their  happiness. 

45.  In  1641,  the  settlements  of  New-Hampshire  werrj 
incorporated  with  Massachusetts.    And,  in  1652,  the  in 
habitants  of  the  province  of  Maine  were,  at  their  own  re 
quest,  taken  under  her  protection.     This  province  had 
been  granted  to  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges,  who,  in  1639,  first 
established  a  government  ov0r  it.     In  1640,  a  general 
court  was  held  at  Saeo.    Upon  the  death  of  the  proprieto, , 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

in  1649,  most  of  the  officers  whom  he  had  appointed,  de 
serted  it,  and  the  people  found  it  necessary  to  resort  else 
where  for  protection. 

46.  In  1656,  several  Quakers  arrived  in  the  colony.     In 
this  age  of  enthusiasts,  these  sectarians  surpassed  all  others 
in  enthusiasm.     Their  behavior  was  rude,  contemptuous, 
and  disorderly.     They  reviled  magistrates  and  ministers,, 
and,  entering  churches  on  the  Sabbath,  disturbed  the  so 
lemnities  of  public  worship.     For  these  offences  they  were 
first  imprisoned,  and  then  banished.     A  law  was  passed 
prohibiting  Quakers  from  coming  into  the  colony,  imposing 
the  penalty  of  banishment  upon  the  first  offence,  and  of 
death  upon  such  as  should  return  after  banishment.    Four, 
who  were  so  infatuated  as  to  return  and  obtrude  themselves 
upon  the  notice  of  the  government,  suffered  the  death  which 
they  appeared  to  seek.     This  cruel  and  impolitic  law  was 
soon  afterwards  repealed. 

47.  Cromwell,  who  had  governed  England  with  greater 
ability  and  higher  merit  than  most  of  her  kings,  died  in 
1658,  and  after  an  interval  of  two  years,  Charles  II, 
a  prince   destitute  of  honor   and   virtue,   was   recalled 
from  exile  and  placed  upon  the  throne.     He  was  reluct 
antly  acknowledged  by  the  colonies  of  New-England. 
They  had  been  the  favorites  of  the  parliament,  and  the 
protector,  and  apprehended,  with  good  reason,  the  loss  of 
their  civil  and  religious  privileges. 

48.  A  short  time  after,  Whalley  and  Goffe,  two  of  the 
judges  who  had  sentenced  Charles   I   to  be  beheaded, 
having  fled  before  the  return  of  his  successor,  arrived  in 
New-England.     Their  first  place  of  residence  was  Cam 
bridge  ;  but  they  often  appeared  publicly  in  Boston,  par 
ticularly  on  Sundays  and  other  da}^s  of  religious  solemni 
ties.     They  had  sustained  high  rank  in  Cromwell's  army, 
were  men  of  uncommon  talents,  and,  by  their  dignified  man 
ners  and  grave  deportment,  commanded  universal  respect. 

49.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  they  were  excepted 
from  the  general  pardon,  the  governor  suggested  to  the 
court  of  assistants  the  expediency  of  arresting  them.     A 
majority  opposed  it,  and  many  members  of  the  general 
court  gave  them  assurances  of  protection.     Considering 
themselves,  however,  unsafe  at  Cambridge,  they  removed 
to  New-Haven,  where  they  were  received  with  great  re 
spect  by  the  clergy  and  magistrates. 

50.  After  a  short  residence  there,  enjoying,  in  private? 
the  society  of  their  friends,  the  governor  of  Massachusetts 


$8  MASSACHUSETTS. 

Deceived  a  mandate  to  arrest  them.  A  warrant  was  im 
mediately  issued,  authorising  two  zealous  loyalists  to 
pearch  for,  and  seize  them,  wherever  found,  in  New-Eng 
land.  They  hastened  to  the  colony  of  New-Haven,  ex- 
Jiibited  the  warrant  to  the  governor,  who  resided  at  Guil- 
;ford,  and  requested  him  to  furnish  authority  and  assistants 
to  pursue  them.  Desirous  of  favoring  the  exiles,  he  affect 
ed  to  deliberate  until  the  next  morning,  and  then  utterly 
declined  acting  officially,  without  the  advice  of  his  council. 

51.  In  the  mean  time,  they  were  apprized  of  their  dan 
ger,  and  retired  to  a  new  place  of  concealment.     The  pur 
suers,  on  arriving  at  New-Haven,  searched  every  sus 
pected  house,  except  the  one  where  the  judges  were  con 
cealed.     This  they  began  to  search,  but  were  induced,  by 
the  address  of  the  mistress  of  it,  to  'desist.     When  the 
pursuers  had  departed,  the  judges,  retiring  into  the  woods, 
fixed  their  abode  in  a  cave. 

52.  Having  there  heard  that  their  friends  were  threat 
ened  with  punishment,  for  having  afforded  them  protection, 
they  came  from  their  hiding  place  for  the  purpose  of  de 
livering  themselves  up ;  but  their  friends,  actuated  by  feel 
ings  equally  noble  and  generous,  persuaded  them  to  relin 
quish  their  intention.     Soon  after,  they  removed  to  Mil- 
lord,  where  they  remained  about  two  years. 

53.  Upon  the  arrival  of  other  persons,  instructed  to  ap 
prehend  them,  they  repaired  privately  to  Hadley,  in  Mas 
sachusetts,  where  they  resided  fifteen  or  sixteen  years, 
ftut  few  persons  being  acquainted  with  the  place  of  their 
concealment.     There  is,  in  that  neighborhood,  a  tradition, 
that  many  years  afterwards  two  graves  were  discovered 
in  the  minister's  cellar ;  and  in  these,  it  was  supposed, 
they  had  been  interred.     At  New-Haven,  two  graves  are 
shown,  said  to  be  those  of  the  two  judges.     It  is  not  im 
probable  that  their  remains  were  removed  to  this  place  from 
Hadley. 

54.  A  singular  incident  which  occurred  at  the  latter 
place,  in  1675,  shows  that  one  of  these  illustrious  exiles 
had  not  forgotten  the  avocations  of  his  youth.     The  people, 
at  the  time  of  public  worship,  were  alarmed  by  an  attack 
ftom  the  Indians,  and  thrown  into  the  utmost  confusion. 
Suddenly,  a  grave,  elderly  person  appeared,  differing  in  his 
mien  and  dress  from  all  around  him.     He  put  himself  at 
.their  head,  rallied,  encouraged,  and  led  them  against  the 
.enemy,  who  were  repulsed  and  completely  defeated.     As 
suddenly,  the  deliverer  of  Hadley  disappeared.    The  people 


MASSACHUSETTS.  39f 

"were  lost  in  amazement,  and  many  verily  believed  that  an? 
angel  sent  from  heaven  had  led  them  to  victory. 

55.  Their  treatment  of  the  king's  judges,  and  in  trutk 
all  their  conduct,  evinced  the  republican  spirit  of  the  colo 
nists.     By  the  royal  government  of  England,  they  could 
not,  therefore,  be  regarded  with  favor.     In  1663,  it  wa& 
enacted,  that  no  European  commodity  should  be  imported 
into  the  colonies,  unless  shipped  directly  from  England^ 
and  in  British  vessels.     By  this  regulation,  in  connection 
with  others  that  had  been  previously  made,  all  the  trade- 
of  the  colonies  was  secured  to  the  mother  country.     They 
submitted  reluctantly  to  these  restrictions,  and  often  made 
them  the  subject  of  complaint.     But   England,  believing 
that  they  augmented  her  wealth  and  power,  obstinately 
refused  to  repeal  them. 

56.  In  1664,  the  king  despatched  four  commissioners 
to  visit  the  several  colonies  in  New-England,  to  examine 
into  their  condition,  to  hear  and  decide  complaints,  and  to 
make  to  him  a  report  of  their  proceedings  and  observations. 
This  measure  was  dictated  by  no  friendly  motive,  and  was 
considered  by  the  colonies  as  a  violation  of  their  charters. 

57.  The  first  session  of  the  commissioners  was  at  Plym 
outh,  where  but  little  business  was  transacted ;  the  next 
in  Rhode  Island,  where  they  heard  complaints  from  the 
Indians,  and  all  who  were  discontented,  and  made  divers 
determinations  respecting  titles  to  land,  which  were  but 
little  regarded.     In  Massachusetts,  the  general  court  com 
plied  with  such  of  their  requisitions  as  they  thought  pro 
per  ;  but,  professing  sincere  loyalty  to  his  majesty,  declined 
acknowledging  their  authority,  and  protested  against  the 
exercise  of  it  within  their  limits. 

58.  In  consequence  of  this  manly  assertion  of  their 
chartered  rights,  an  angry  correspondence  took  place  be 
tween  them,  at  the  close  of  which  the  commissioners  petu 
lantly  told  the  general  court,  "  that  they  would   lose  no 
more  of  their  labors  upon  them,"  but  would  represent  their 
conduct  to  his  majesty. 

59.  From  Boston,  the  commissioners  proceeded  to  New- 
Hampshire,  where  they  exercised  several  acts  of  govern 
ment,  and  offered  to  release  the  inhabitants  from  the  juris 
diction  of  Massachusetts.     This  offer  was  almost  unani 
mously  rejected.    In  Maine,  they  excited  more  disturbance. 
They  encouraged  the  people  to  declare  themselves  inde 
pendent,  and  found  many  disposed  to  listen  to  their  sug 
gestions:  but  Massachusetts,  by  a  prompt  and  vigorous 


40  .MASSACHUSETTS. 

exertion  of  power,  constrained  the  disaffected  to  submit  ttf 
her  authority. 

60.  Connecticut  appears  to  have  been  the  favorite  of  the 
commissioners.     She  treated  them  with  respect,  and  com 
plied  with  their  requisitions.     In  return,  they  made  such 
a  representation  of  her  merits  to  the  king,  as  to  draw  from 
him  a*  letter  of  thanks.     "  Although,"  says  he,  "  your  car 
riage  doth  of  itself  most  justly  deserve  our  praise  and  ap 
probation,  yet  it  seems  to  be  set  off  with  more  lustre  by 
the  contrary  behavior  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts." 

61.  At  the  end  of  fifty  years  from  the  arrival  of  the 
emigrants  at  Plymouth,  the  New-England  colonies  were 
supposed  to  contain  one  hundred  and  twenty  towns,  and 
as  many  thousand  inhabitants.     The  acts  of  parliament 
not  being  rigidly  enforced,  their  trade  had  become  exten 
sive  and  profitable.     The  habits  of  industry  and  economy, 
which  had  been  formed  in  less  happy  times,  continued  to 
prevail,  and  gave  a  competency  to  those  who  had  nothing, 
and  wealth  to  those  who  had  a  competency.     The  wilder 
ness  receded  before  adventurous  and  hardy  laborers,  and 
its  savage  inhabitants  found  their  game  dispersed,  and 
their  favorite  haunts  invaded. 

62.  This  was  the  natural  consequence  of  the  sales  of 
land,  which  were,  at  all  times,  readily  made  to  the  whites. 
But  this  consequence  the  Indians  did  not  foresee ;  and 
whrn  they  felt  it  in  all  its  force,  the  strongest  passions 
were  awakened  which  can  animate  civilized  or  savage 
man,  the  love  of  country  and  of  independence. 

63.  A  leader  only  was  wanting  to  concentrate  and  direct 
tluur  exertions,  and  Philip,  of  Pokanoket,  sachem  of  a 
tribe  living  within  the  boundaries  of  Plymouth  and  Rhode 
Island,  assumed   that  honorable,  but  dangerous,  station. 
His  father  was  the  friend,  but  he  had  ever  been  the  ene 
my,  u:*  the  whites;  and  this  enmity,  arising  from  causes 
of  national  concern,  had  been  embittered  to  vindictive  ha 
tred  by  their  conduct  towards  his  elder  brother.     This 
brother,  being  suspected  of  plotting  against  them,  was 
seized  by  a  detachment  of  soldiers,  and  confined ;  and  the 
indignity  so  wrought  upon  his  proud  spirit,  as  to  produce  a 
fevfir  that  put  an  end  to  his  life. 

64.  Philip  inherited  the  authority  and  proud  spirit  of  his 
brother.     He  exerted  all  the  arts  of  intrigue,  and  powers 
of  persuasion,  of-which  he  was  master,  to  induce  the  In 
dians,  in  all  parts  of  New-England,  to  unite  their  efforts 
ibr  the  destruction  of  the  whites.    He  succeeded  in  form  - 


MASSACHUSETTS.  <1I; 

ing  a  confederacy,  able  to  send  into  action  between  three* 
and  four  thousand  warriors. 

65.  The  English  were  apprized  of  the  plots  of  the  In-. 
dians,  and  made   preparations  to  meet   their  hostilities.. 
They  hoped,  however,  that  the  threatened  storm  would, 
pass  by,  as  others  had,  and  that  peace  would  be  preserved* 
But  the  insolence  of  Philip,  and  the  number  of  his  adhe 
rents,  increased  daily;  and,  in  June,  1675,  some  of  them, 
entered  the  town  of  Swanzey,  in  Plymouth,  where,  after 
slaughtering  the  cattle,  and  plundering  the  houses,  they 
fired  upon  the  inhabitants,  killing  and  wounding  several. 

66.  The  troops  of  that  colony  marched  immediately  to 
Swanzey,  and  were  soon  joined  by  a  detachment  front. 
Massachusetts.     The  Indians  fled,  and  marked  the  course 
of  their  flight  by  burning  the  buildings,  and  fixing  on  poles, 
by  the  way  side,  the  hands,  scalps,  and  heads  of  the  white** 
whom  they  had  killed.     The  troops  pursued,  but  unable  to 
overtake  them,'  returned  to  Swanzey. 

67.  The  whole  country  was  alarmed,  and  the  number  of 
Iroops  augmented.     By  this  array  of  force,  Philip  was  in 
duced  to  quit  his  residence  at  Mount  Hope,  and  take  post, 
near  a  swamp  at  Pocasset   now  Tiyerton.     At  that,  place, 
the  English  attacked  him,  but  were  repulsed.     Sixteea. 
whites  were  killed,  and  the  Indians,  by  this  success,  were 
made  bolder. 

68.  At  this  time,  most  of  the  settlements  were  sur 
rounded  by  thick  forests,  and  the  Indians  lived  intermixed, 
with  the  whites.     The  former  were  acquainted,  of  course, 
with  the  dwellings  of  the  latter,  with  their  roads,  and, 
places  of  resort ;  could  watch  their  motions,  and  fall  upon 
them  in  their  defenceless  and  unguarded  moments.    Many 
were  shot  dead  as  they  opened  their  doors  in  the  morn 
ing  ;  many  while  at  work  in  their  fields,  and  others  while 
travelling  to  visit  their  neighbors,  or  places  of  worship. 
At  all  times,  at  all  places,  in  all  employments,  were  their 
lives  in  jeopardy;  and  no  one  could  tell  but  that,  in  th$ 
next  moment,  he  should  receive  his  death  shot  from  his. 
barn,  the  thicket,  or  the  way  side. 

69.  Whenever  the  enemy  assembled  in,  force,  detach 
ments  w-eie  sent  against  them ;  if  weaker  than  these,  they 
would   retreat;  if  stronger,   assault   and  conquer  them. 
Defenceless  villages  were  suddenly  attacked,  the  houses 
burned,  and  the  men,  women,  and  children  killed,  or  car— 
ried  into  captivity.     Their  ruin  was  the  work  of  a  mo- 
?n*r»t :  and  when  accomplished,  :tg  p.uihors  vanished.- 

T)  2  .' 


13  MASSACHUSETTS. 

70.  The  colonies,  losing  individuals,  families  and  vil 
lages,  found  their  numbers   sensibly  diminished  ;   their 
strength  impaired ;  and  began  to  apprehend  even  total  ex 
tinction.     Nothing  but  a  yigorous  effort  could  save  them. 
The  commissioners  met,  and  determined  to  despatch  an 
army  of  a  thousand  men,  to  attack  the  principal  position 
of  the  enemy.     Josiah  Winslow,  governor  of  Plymouth, 
was  appointed  commander-in-chief ;  and  a  solemn  fast,  to 
invoke  the  divine  aid,  was  proclaimed  throughout  New- 
England. 

71.  On  the  18th  of  December,  the  different  bodies  of 
troops  formed  a  junction  at  a  place  in  the  country  of  the 
Narragaiisets.  ahout  fifteen  miles  from  the  enemy.     The 
•weather  was  nxlremely  cold,  but  the  men,  from  necessity, 
passed  the  night,  uncovered,  in  the  fields.     At  dawn  of 
day  they  began   their  march,   wading  through   the  deep 
snow,  and  at  one  o'clock,  arrived  near  the  enemy's  post, 
which  was  upon  a  rising  ground,  in  the  midst  of  a  swamp. 
It  wic:  surrounded  by  palisades,  and  on  the  outside  of  these 
was  a  ''f -ri^e  of  brush,  a  rod  in  width. 

72.  H-T?  was  fought  the  most  desperate  battle  recorded 
in  the  early  annals  of  the  country.     It  continued  three 
hours.     The  English  obtained  a  decisive  victory.     One 
thousand  Indian  warriors  were  killed;  three  hundred  more, 
and  as  many  women  and  children  were  made  prisoners. 
But  dearly  was  the  victory  purchased.     Six  brave  cap 
tains,  and  eighty  men,  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  were  wounded. 

73.  From  this  blow,  the  confederated  Indians  never  re 
covered;  but  they  still  remained   sufficiently  strong  to 
harass  the  settlements  by  continual  inroads.     In  retalia 
tion,  the  English  sent  several  detachments  into  their  ter 
ritories,  nearly  all  of  which  were   successful.     Captain 
Church,  of  Plymouth,  and  Captain  Dennison.  of  Connecti 
cut,  were  conspicuous  for  their  bravery  and  good  fortune. 

74.  In  the  midst  of  these  reverses,  Philip  remained  firm 
and  unshaken.     His  warriors  were  cut  off;  his  chief  men, 
his  wife  and  family,  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners ;  and 
at  these  successive  misfortunes,  he  is  represented  to  have 
wept  with  a  bitterness  which  proved  him  to  possess  the 
noblest  of  human  virtues  and  affections ;  but  he  disdained 
to  listen  to  any  offers  of  peace.     He  even  shot  one  of  his 
men,  who  proposed  submission.     At  length,  after  being 
hunted  from  swamp  to  swamp,  he  was  himself  shot,  by 
.the  brother  of  the  Indian  he  had  killed.     After  his  death. 


MASSACHUSETTS.  45 

the  remnant  of  his  followers  either  submitted  to  the  Eng 
lish,  or  united  with  distant  tribes. 

75.  Never  was  peace  more  welcome,  for  never  had  war 
been  more  distressing.     The  whole  population  was  in 
mourning  for  relatives  slain.     Nearly  a  thousand  houses 
had  been  burned,  and  goods  and  cattle  of  great  value,  had 
been  plundered  or  destroyed.     The  colonies  had  contracted 
a  heavy  debt,  which,  their  resources  having  been  so  much 
diminished,  they  found  an  almost  insupportable  burden. 
But,  in  their  deepest  distress,  they  forbore  to  apply  to  the 
mother  country  for  assistance ;  and  this  omission  excited 
surprise  and  jealousy.     "  You  act,"  said  a  privy  counsellor, 
"as  though  you  were  independent  of  our  master's  crown; 
and  though  poor,  yet  you  are  proud." 

76.  In  1680,  New-Hampshire,  at  the  solicitation  of  John 
Mason,  to  whose  ancestor  a  part  of  the  territory  had  been 
granted,  was  constituted  a  separate  colony.     Massachu 
setts,  apprehending  the  loss  of  Maine  also,  purchased  of 
the  heirs  of  Gorges,  their  claim  to  the  soil  and  jurisdiction, 
for  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 

77.  The  disregard  of  the  acts  of  trade  had  given  great 
offence  to  the  mother  country,  and  the  Governors  of  New- 
England  were  peremptorily  required  to  enforce  them.    But 
being  enacted  by  a  parliament  in  which  the  colonies  were 
not  represented,  they  were  regarded  as  violations  of  their 
rights,  and  continued  to  be  evaded  with  impunity.     Ed 
ward  Randolph  was  therefore  sent  over,  commissioned  as 
inspector  of  the  customs  in  New-England.     He  was  also! 
the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  the  king,  requiring  that  agents 
should  be  sent  to  the  court  of  London,  fully  empowered  to 
act  for  the  colonies. 

78.  It  was  well  understood  to  be  the  intention  of  the 
king  to  procure,  from  the  agents,  a  surrender  of  the  char 
ters,  or  to  annul  them  by  a  suit  in  his  courts,  that  he  might 
himself  place  officers  over  the  colonies,  who  would  be  sub 
servient  to  his  views.     The  inhabitants  of  Massachusetts 
felt  that  to  be  deprived  of  their  charter,  which  secured  to 
them  the  right  of  self-government,  would  be  the  greatest 
of  calamities;  and  their  agents  were  instructed,  in  no 
emergency,  to  surrender  it.     This  being  known  to  the  king, 
a  prosecution  was  instituted  against  the  corporation,  and, 
in  1684,  a  subservient  court  decreed  that  the  charter  should 
be  cancelled. 

79.  All  impediments  to  the  exercise  of  the  roVal  will 
being  thus  removed,  king  James  established  a  temporary 


A  \  MASSACHUSETTS. 

government  over  the  colony,  first  appointing  Joseph  Dud 
ley,  and,  in  1686,  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  governor.  This 
latter  appointment  caused  the  most  gloomy  forebodings. 
Sir  Edmund  had  been  governor  of  New-York,  and  it  was 
known  that  his  conduct  there  had  been  arbitrary  and 
tyrannical. 

80.  Having  secured  a  majority  in  the  council,  he  as 
sumed  control  over  the  press,  appointing  Randolph  licenser. 
He  established  new  and  oppressive  regulations  concerning 
faxes,  public  worship.,  marriages,  and  the  settlement  of 
estates.     He,  and,  by  his  permission,  his  subordinate  offi 
cers,  extorted  enormous  fees  for  their  services.     He  de 
clared  that,  the  charter  being  cancelled,  the  old  titles  to 
land  were  of  no  validity,  and  compelled  the  inhabitants,  in 
order  to  avoid  suits  before  judges  dependent  on  his  will,  to 
take  out  new  patents,  for  which  large  sums  were  demanded. 

81.  The  hatred  of  the  people  was  excited  in  proportion 
to  their  sufferings.     In  the  beginning  of  1689,  a  rumor 
reached  Boston,  that  'William,  prince  of  Orange,  had  in 
vaded  England,  with  the  intention  of  dethroning  the  king. 
Animated  by  the  hope  of  deliverance,  the  people  rushed 
spontaneously  to  arms,  took  possession  of  the  fort,  seized 
Andross,   Randolph,  and   other  obnoxious  persons,  and 
placed  them  in  confinement.     A  council  of  safety,  consist 
ing  of  their  former  magistrates,  was  then  organized,  to 
administer  the  government  until   authentic   intelligence 
should  be  received  from  England. 

82.  In  a  few  weeks  a  ship  arrived,  bringing  the  glad 
tidings  that  William  and  Mary  were  firmly  seated  on  the 
throne.     They  were  immediately  proclaimed,  in  all  the 
colonies,  with  unusual  rejoicings.     The  people  of  Massa 
chusetts  applied  for  the  restoration  of  their  old,  or  the 
grant  of  a  new  charter.     A  definite  answer  was  deferred, 
but  the  council  was  authorized  to  administer  the  govern 
ment,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  old  charter,  until 
further  directions  should  be  given.     Andross,  Randolph, 
and  others,  were  ordered  home  for  trial. 

83.  In  this  unsettled  state  of  the  country,  the  French 
in  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia,  instigated  the  northern  and 
eastern  Indians  to  commence  hostilities  against  the  Eng 
lish  settlement.      Dover  and   Salmon   Falls,  in   New- 
Hampshire,  Casco,  in  Maine,  and  Schenectady,  in  New- 
York,  were  attacked  by  different   parties  of  French  and 
Indians,  and  the  most  shocking  barbarities  perpetrated 
imon  thp  inhabitants. 


MASSACHUSETTS.  4* 

134.  Regarding  Canada  as  the  principal  source  of  their 
miseries,  New-England  and  New- York  formed  the  bold 
project  of  reducing  it  to  subjection.  By  great  exertion, 
they  raised  an  army,  which,  under  the  command  of  Gene 
ral  Winthrop,  was  sent  against  Montreal,  and  equipped  a 
fleet,  which,  commanded  by  Sir  William  Phipps,  was  des 
tined  to  attack  Quebec. 

85.  Both  returned  unsuccessful,  disappointing  the  san 
guine  hopes  of  the  people,  and  burdening  them  with  a  debt 
which  they  had  not  "the  means  of  discharging.     To  pay 
off  her  troops,  Massachusetts  put  in  circulation  bills  of 
credit,  or  paper  money,  an  expedient  which  was  afterwards 
often  resorted  to,  and,  though  it  afforded  relief  at  the 
moment,  produced,  in  its  consequences,  extensive  and 
complicated  mischief. 

86.  In  the  mean  time,  a  new  charter  had  been  granted 
to  Massachusetts,  which  added   Plymouth,  Maine,  and 
Nova  Scotia,  to  her  territory.     The  only  privilege  it  al 
lowed  to  the  people  was,  the  choice  of  representatives. 
These  were  to  elect  a  council,  and  both  bodies  were  to 
constitute  the  legislative  power.     It  reserved  to  the  king 
the  right  of  appointing  the  governor  and  lieutenant  gover- 

vnor.  TojJie  governor  it  gave  the  power  of  rejecting  laws, 
of  negativing  the  choice  of  counsellors,  of  appointing  all 
military  and  judicial  officers,  of  adjourning  and  even  of 
dissolving  the  assembly  at  pleasure.  Laws,  although 
approved  by  him,  might  be  abrogated  by  the  king,  within 
three  years  after  their  enactment. 

87.  The  king,  to  render  the  new  charter  more  accepta 
ble,  appointed  Sir  William  Phipps,  a  native  of  the  province, 
governor,  and  in  1692,  he  arrived  at  Boston.     The  new 
government  went  into  operation  without  any  opposition 
from  the  inhabitants ;  and  almost  the  first  act  of  Sir  Wil 
liam  Phipps  and  his  council,  was  the  institution  of  a  court 
to  try  the  unfortunate  victims  of  popular  delusion,  accused 
of  witchcraft,  at  Salem. 

88.  The  belief  in  this  supposed  crime,  had  been  so  pre 
valent   in   England,  that   parliament  had  enacted  a  law 
punishing  it  with  death.     Under  this  law,  multitudes  had 
been  tried  and  executed  in  that  country,  and  two  or  three 
in  Massachusetts,  some  of  whom  acknowledged  they  were 
guilty.      Accounts  of  these  trials  and   confessions,  and 
particularly  of  some  trials  before  Sir  Matthew  Hale,  a 
judge  revered  in  the  colonies,  had  been  published  and  dis 
tributed  throughout  the  country*    They  were  read,  in  a 


46  MASSACHUSETTS: 

time  of  deep  distress  and  gloom,  by  a  people  naturally 
sedate,  and  accustomed  to  regard  with  awe  the  surprising 
and  unaccountable  incidents  and  appearances  which,  in  this 
new  world,  were  often  presented  to  their  contemplation. 

89.  In  February,  1692,  a  daughter  and  a  niece  of  Mr. 
Paris,  the  minister  of  Salem,  were  afflicted  with  disor 
ders  affecting  their  bodies  in  the  most  singular  manner. 
The  physicians,  unable  to  account  for  their  contortions, 
pronounced  them  bewitched ;  and  the  children,  hearing  of 
this,  declared  that  an  Indian  woman,  who  lived  in  the 
house,  was  the  cause  of  their  torments.     Mr.  Paris  con 
curred  with  the  physicians.     Several  private  fasts  were 
kept  at  his  house,  and  the  gloom  was  increased  by  a 
solemn  fast  throughout  the  colony. 

90.  The  Indian  woman  confessed  herself  guilty.     The 
children   were  visited,  noticed,  and  pitied.      This   en 
couraged  them  to  persevere,  and  other  children,  either 
from  sympathy  or  the  desire  of  similar  attentions,  exhibited 
similar  contortions.     A  distracted  old  woman,  and  one 
who  had  been  a  long  time  confined  to  her  bed,  were  added 
to  the  list  of  the  accused ;  and,  in  the  progress  of  the 
infatuation,  women  of  mature  age  united  with  the  children 
in  their  accusations.  ^ 

91.  The  accused  were  multiplied  in  proportion  to  the 
accusers.     Children  accused  their  parents,  and  parents 
their  children.     A  word  from  those  who  were  supposed 
to  be  afflicted,  occasioned  the  arrest  of  the  devoted  victim; 
and  so  firmly  convinced  were  the  magistrates,  that  the 
prince  of  darkness  was  in  the  midst  of  them,  using  human 
intruments  to  accomplish  his  purposes,  that  the  slightest 
testimony  was  deemed  sufficient  to  justify  a  commitment 
for  trial. 

92.  The  court,  especially  instituted  for  this  purpose,  held 
a  session  in  June,  and  afterwards  several  others  by  ad 
journment.     Many  were  tried,  and  received  sentence  of 
death.     A  few  pleaded  guilty.     Several  were  convicted 
upon  testimony,  which,  at  other  times,  would  not  have 
induced  suspicion  of  an  ordinary  crime,  and  some  upon 
testimony  retracted  after  conviction.      Nineteen  were 
executed,  and  many  yet  remained  to  be  tried. 

93.  At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  the  legislature 
established,  by  law,  a  permanent  court,  by  which  the  other 
was  superseded,  and  fixed  a  distant  day  for  its  first  ses 
sion  at  Salem.     In  the  mean  time,  the  accusations  multi 
plied,  and  additional  jails  were  required  to  hold  the  accused* 


^MASSACHUSETTS  47 

The  impostors,  hardened  by  impunity  and  success,  as 
cended  from  decrepid  old  women,  to  respectable  charac 
ters,  and  at  length,  in  their  ravings,  named  ministers  of 
the  gospel,  and  even  the  wife  of  the  governor. 

94.  The  community  were  thrown  into  consternation. 
Each  felt  alarm  for  himself,  his  family,  and  friends.    The 
shock  roused  them  to  reflection.     They  considered  more 
closely  the  character  of  the  accusers;  the  nature  of  the 
alleged  crime ;  the  testimony,  often  contradictory  and 
never  explicit ;  and  more  than  all  these,  the  high  standing 
of  some  who  were  implicated ;  and  began  to  doubt  whether 
they  had  not  been  too  credulous  and  precipitate. 

95.  At  the  next  term,  the  grand  jury  found  indictments 
against  fifty ;  but,  on  trial,  all  were  acquitted  except  three, 
and  them  the  governor  reprieved.     He  also  directed  that 
all  who  were  in  prison  should  be  set  at  liberty.     A  belief, 
however,  of  the  truth  of  the  charges,  still  lingered  among 
the  people,  and  prevented  any  prosecution  of  the  impostors. 
That  all  were  impostors,  cannot  be  believed.     Many  must 
have  acted  under  the  influence  of  a  disordered  imagination, 
which  the  attendant  circumstances  were  well  calculated 
to  produce. 

96.  Besides  establishing  courts  of  justice,  the  legisla 
ture,  at  its  first  session  under  the  new  charter,  passed  a 
law  which  indicates  the  same  independent  spirit  that  af 
terwards  resisted  the  usurpations  of  the  British  parlia 
ment.     It  provided  that  no  tax  should  be  imposed  upon 
any  of  his  majesty's  subjects,  or  their  estates,  in  the  pro 
vince,  but  by  the  act  and  consent  of  the  governor,  cotmcO, 
andjepresentatives  of  the  people,  in  general  court  assem 
bled.     It  is  almost  superfluous  to  say,  that  this  law  was 
disallowed  by  the  king. 

97.  The  war  with  the  French  and  Indians,  which  be 
gan  in  1690,  was  not  yet  terminated.     For  seven  years 
were  the  frontier  settlements  harassed  by  the  savages ; 
and  the  English  employed  in  expeditions  against  them.    A 
history  of  these  would  consist  only  of  repeated  accounts 
of  Indian  cunning  and  barbarity,  and  of  English  enterprise 
and  fortitude.     Peace  between  England  and  France,  which 
took  place  in  1697,  was  soon  followed  by  peace  with  the 
savages. 

98.  But  in  a  few  years,  war  again  broke  out  in  Europe, 
which  was  the  signal  for  hostilities  in  America.     The  first 
blow  fell  upon  Deerfield.    In  February,  1704,  it  was  sur 
prised  in  the  night,  about  forty  persons  were  killed,  and 


48  mSSACHUSETTS.  ' 

more  than  one  hundred  made  prisoners,  among  whom  were 
Mr.  Williams,  the  minister,  and  his  family.  The  killed 
were  scalped,  and  the  prisoners  commanded  to  prepare  for 
a  long  march  to  Canada. 

99.  On  the  second  day,  Mrs.  Williams  was  so  exhausted 
with  fatigue  that  she  could  go  no  farther.     Her  husband 
solicited  permission  to  remain  with  her ;  but  the  retreat 
ing  savages,  according  to  their  custom  in  such  cases,  killed 
her  and  compelled  him  to  proceed.    Before  the  termina 
tion  of  their  journey,  twenty  more  became  unable  to  walk, 
and  were  in  like  manner  sacrificed.     Those  who  survived 
the  journey  to  Canada  were  treated  by  the  French  with 
humanity ;  and  after  a  captivity  of  many  years,  most  of 
them  were  redeemed,  and  returned  to  their  friends. 

100.  New- York  having  agreed  with  the  French  and  the 
western  Indians  to  remain  neutral,  these  were  enabled  to 
pour  their  whole  force  upon  Massachusetts  and   New- 
Hampshire,  the  inhabitants  of  which,  for  ten  years,  endured 
miseries  peculiar  to  an  Indian  war,  and  more  distressing 
than  their  descendants  can  well  imagine.     The  enemy 
were  at  all  times  prowling  about  the  frontier  settlements, 
watching  in  concealment  for  an  opportunity  to  strike  a 
sudden  })\ow  and  fly  with  safety.     The  women  and  chil 
dren  retired  into  the  garrisons ;  the  men  left  their  fields  un 
cultivated,  or  labored  with  arms  at  their  sides,  and  with  sen 
tinels  at  every  point  whence  an  attack  could  be  apprehended. 

101.  Yet  notwithstanding  these  precautions,  the  enemy 
were  often  successful,  killing  sometimes  an  individual  only, 
sometimes  a  whole  family,  sometimes  a  band  of  laborers, 
ten  or  twelve  in  number ;  and  so  swift  were  they  in  their 
movements,  that  but  few  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  whites. 
It  was  computed,  that  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  was 
expended  for  every  Indian  killed  or  made  captive. 

102.  In    1707,   Massachusetts,   New-Hampshire,   and 
Rhode  Island  despatched  an  armament  against  Port  Royal, 
in  Nova  Scotia,  which  was  then  in  possession  of  the  French. 
It  returned  without  accomplishing  its  object.     In  1710, 
New-England,  assisted  by  a  fleet  furnished  by  the  mother 
country,  succeeded  in  reducing  the  place ;  and  its  name, 
in  compliment  to  queen  Anne,  was  changed  to  Annapolis. 

103.  The  success  of  this  enterprise  encouraged  the 
commander,  general  Nicholson,  to  visit  England  and  pro 
pose  an  expedition  against  Canada.     His  proposition  was 
adopted,  and  in  June,  1711,  admiral  Walker,  with  a  fleet 
of  fifteen  ships  of  war,  and  forty  transports,  bringing  an 


'MASSACHUSETTS.  49 

•army  of  veteran  troops,  arrived  at  Boston.  Taking  on 
board  two  additional  regiments,  he  sailed  from  that  port 
about  the  last  of  July.  At  the  same  time,  general  Nichol 
son  repaired  to  Albany  to  take  command  of  the  troops  that 
\vere  to  proceed  by  land. 

104.  When  the  fleet  had  advanced  ten  leagues  up  the 
river  St.  Lawrence,  the  weather  became  tempestuous  and 
foggy.     A  difference  of  opinion  arose  concerning  the  course 
to  be  pursued,  the  English  pilots  recommending  one  course, 
and  the  colonial  another.     The  admiral,  entertaining,  like 
all  other  English  officers,  an  opinion  of  the  abilities  of  the 
colonists  corresponding  with  their  dependent  condition, 
adopted  the  advice  of  his  own  pilots.     Pursuing  the  course 
they  recommended,  rhie  transports  were  driven,  about 
midnight,  upon  the  rocks  and  dashed  to  pieces. 

105.  From  every  quarter  cries  of  distress  arose,  con 
veying,  through  the  darkness,  to  those  who  were  yet  afloat, 
intelligence  of  the  fate  of  their  comrades  and  of  their  own 
danger.     The  shrieks  of  the  drowning  pleaded  powerfully 
for  assistance,  but  none  could  be  afforded  until  the  morn 
ing  dawned,  when  six  or  seven  hundred,  found  floating  on 
the  scattered  wrrecks,  were  rescued  from  death,  more  than 
a  thousand  having  sunk  to  rise  no  more.     Not  a  single 
American  was  lost. 

106.  Weakened  by  this  terrible  disaster,  the  admiral 
determined  to  return  to  England,  where  he  arrived  in  the 
month  of  October.     Thither  misfortune  attended  him. 
On  the  fifteenth,  his  ship  blew  up  and  four  hundred  sea 
men  perished.     The  New-England  troops  returned  to  their 
homes,  and  Nicholson,  having  learned  the  fate  of  the  fleet, 
led  back  his  troops  to  Albany.     The  next  year  the  colonies 
found  no  repose.     In  1713,  France  and  England  ^made 
peace  at  Utrecht,  and,  in  the  same  year,  peace  was  con 
cluded  with  the  Indians. 

107.  Such  was  the  destruction  of  lives  in  this  \pr,  that 
the  population  of ,. New- England  was  sensibly  retarded. 
Her  expenses  were  also  enormous.     Although  the  annual 
taxes  paid  by  the  inhabitants,  were  greater  than  in  any 
other  portion  of  the  British  empire,  yet  the  colonies  most 
exposed,  were  burdened,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  with  a 
heavy  debt,  in  the  shape  of  bills  of  credit,  or  paper  money, 
which  impeded  their  prosperity,  perplexing  individuals  and 
the  government  in  all  their  transactions. 

108.  In  1716,  Samuel  Shute,  a  colonel  in  the  army  of 
the  celebrated  duke  of  Marlborough,  was  appointed  gov- 

E 


so  MASSACHUSETTS. 

ernor.  On  his  arrival  in  the  province,  he  found  the  peo 
ple  divided  into  two  parties,  one  in  favor  of  a  public  bank, 
which  had  just  been  established,  the  other  of  the  incor 
poration  of  a  private  bank.  He  joined  the  former,  the 
latter  of  course  became  hostile  ;  and,  led  by  a  Mr.  Cooke, 
opposed  with  virulence  all  his  measures. 

109.  In  1720,  this  party,  embracing  a  majority  of  the 
representatives,  elected  their  leader  speaker.     The  choice 
was  communicated  to  the  governor,  who  interposed  his 
negative.     The  house  persisted  in  their  choice,  denying 
his  right  to  interfere.     The  controversy  continued  several 
days,  when  the   governor   dissolved  the  assembly,   and 
directed  that  anew  election  should  be  made  by  the  people. 

110.  The  charter  not  giving,  it  express  terms,  to  the 
governor,  the  power  to  reject  a  speaker,  the  people  resolved 
to  support  their  representatives,  and  nearly  all  of  them 
were  again  elected.     When  met,  to  avoid  a  second  disso 
lution,  they  chose  a  Mr.  Lindall  speaker ;  but  in  a  warm 
remonstrance   to  the  governor,  condemned  his  conduct, 
and  re-asserted  their  sole  and  exclusive  right  to  choose 
their  presiding  officer. 

111.  The  session  was  short,  and  but  little  was  done  that 
did  not  display  the  angry  feelings  of  the  house.      Instead 
of  six  hundred  pounds,  the  usual  grant  to  the  governor  for 
half  a  yearns  salary,  they  appropriated  but  five  hundred, 
and,  as  a  mark  of  their  displeasure,  deferred  that  act  until 
near  the  close  of  the  session. 

112.  At  their  next  meeting,  the  same  feelings  prevailed 
and  the  same  diminished  sum  was  voted.      The  governor 
then  informed  them,  that  he  had  been  instructed  by  the 
king  to  recommend  to  the  assembly,  to  establish  for  him  a 
permanent  and  honorable  salary.     The  house,  aware  of 
the  importance  of  retaining  the  power  of  granting  such 
sums  as  the  governor  might  merit  by  his  conduct,  replied, 
that  the  subject  was  new,  and  expressed  a  wish  that  the 
court  might  rise.  With  this  request  the  governor  complied. 

113.  This  disagreement  continued,  the  ill  temper  of 
both  parties  increasing,  through  several  subsequent  ses 
sions.     The  representatives,  confident  of  the  support  of 
the  people,  refused  to  establish  a  permanent  salary  for  the 
governor,  and  often  withheld  the  pittance  they  gave,  until 
he  had  sanctioned  those  measures  w^hich  they  desired 
should  be  adopted. 

114.  His  residence  in  the  province  bein^  rendered,  by 
this  dispute,  unpleasant,  lie  suddenly  and  privately  quitted 


MASSACHUSETTS.  5t 

'it,  in  December,  1722*  Upon  his  arrival  in  England,  he 
exhibited  charges  against  the  house,  of  having  made 
various  encroachments  upon  the  king's  perogative,  which 
the  agents  of  the  province  were  instructed  to  answer  and 
repel. 

115.  He  remained  in   England  until  1728,  whfen  he 
resigned  his  office,  and  William  Burnet,  then  governor  of 
New- York,  was  appointed  his  successor.     In  his  first 
speech,  he  informed  the  house  that  he  had  received  posi 
tive  instructions  from  the  king  to  insist  on  a  permanent 
salary.     The  representatives,  generous  of  their  money  but 
tenacious  of  their  rights,  appropriated  three  hundred  pounds 
for  the  expenses  of  his  journey,  and  fourteen  hundred 
pounds  towards  his  support,  not  specifying  for  what  time. 
The  first  sum  he  accepted ;  but  absolutely  declined  re 
ceiving  any  compensation  for  hi|  servtees,  except  in  the 
mode  of  a  fixed  salary.  \          >.      \ 

116.  The  delegates  wigjfe  eqtflljjfe  decided;  and  having 
transacted  all  their  necessary  business,  requested  the  gov 
ernor,  by  message,  to  adjourn  them.  \He  replied,  that  he 
could  not  comply  with  their  request^  as,  if  he  did,  he 
should  put  it  out  of  their  power  to  pay  immediate  regard 
to  the  king's  instructions.    A  few  days  afterwards,  the 
request  was  again  made  and  again  denied. 

117.  Messages,  containing  arguments  and  replies,  were 
often  interchanged  by  the  parties.     After  two  months  had 
been  consumed  in  the  controversy,  the  governor,  imagin 
ing  the  members  were  influenced  by  the  citizens  of  Bos 
ton,  transferred  the  general  court  to  Salem.     They  were 
detained  there  two  months  ;  were  then  allowed  to  return 
to  their  homes ;    were  again   assembled  after  a   short 
recess ;  and  having  sat  seventeen  days,  were  again  ad 
journed  without  exhibiting  any  symptoms  of  compliance. 

118.  A  new  assembly  was  elected,  and  several  sessions 
in  the  summer  of  1729,  displaying  the  same  spirit  as  the 
former.     In  the  mean  time,  information  was  transmitted 
from  England,  that  the  king  approved  the  conduct  of  the 
governor,  and  condemned  that  of  the  house.     Still  the 
members   continued  inflexible.     In   August,   they  were 
removed  to  Cambridge,  which  served  to  exasperate  rather 
than  to  convince  them.     Here,  however,  the  controversy 
was   suspended,  for  a  time,  by  the   death  of  the  gov 
ernor,  which  was  supposed  to   have  been   hastened  by 
his  unsuccessful  contest  with  the  house  of  represents 


;>0  MASSACHUSETTS. 

119.  His  successor  was  Mr.  Belcher,  then  agent  m 
England.      As    he   belonged  to   the   popular   party,  his 
appointment  gave  rise  to  the  expectation,  that  the  instruc 
tion,  to  obtain  a  permanent  salary,  was  withdrawn.     But 
from  his  first  speech  it  appeared,  that  it  was  not  only 
tmrescinded,  but  enforced  by  a  threat  of  punishment  in 
case  of  refusal. 

120.  The  house,  unintimidated  by  the  threat,  refused. 
The  governor,  during  the  two  first  years  of  his  adminis 
tration,  made  several  attempts  to  induce  them  to  comply. 
All  failing,  he  endeavored  to  obtain  a  relaxation  of  his 
instructions.     Permission  was  at  length  granted  that  he 
might  receive  a  particular  sum,  which  was  voted,  and  a 
similar  permission  was  afterwards  annually  given.     Thus 
ended  a  contest  which  prepared  the  people  of  Massachu 
setts  to  embark  in  another  in  which  more  important  rights 
were  to  be  defended. 

121.  These  turbulent  times  were  succeeded  by  a  calm 
which  continued  several  years ;  during  which,  however, 
the  enemies  of  governor  Belcher,  by  incessant  misrepre 
sentation,  deprived  him  of  the  favor  of  the  ministry  in 
England.     In  1740,  he  was  removed  from  office,  and  Mr. 
William  Shirley  appointed  in  his  place. 

122.  In  1744,  war  again  broke  out  between  England  and 
France,  and  the  colonies  were  involved  in  its  calamities. 
Their  commerce  and  fisheries  suffered  great  injury  from 
privateers,  fitted  out  at  Louisburg,  a  French  port,  on  cape 
Breton.     Its  situation  gave  it  such  importance,  that  nearly 
six  millions  of  dollars  had  been  expended  on  its  fortifica 
tions.     Mr.  Vaughan,  of  New-Hampshire,  who  had  often 
visited  that  place  as  a  trader,  conceived  the  project  of  an 
expedition  against  it.     He  communicated  it  to  governor 
Shirley,  and,  being  ardent  and  enthusiastic,  convinced  him 
that  the  enterprise  was  practicable,  and  inspired  him  with 
his  own  enthusiasm. 

123.  Having  exacted  of  the  general  court  an  oath  of 
secrecy,  the  governor,  in  January,  1745,  communicated  to 
them  the  project.     Many  heard  it  with  amazement.     So 
strong  was  the  place,  and  so  weak  comparatively  were  the 
colonies,  that  the  thought  of  attacking  it  seemed  rash  and 
presumptuous.     From  respect  to  him,  however,  his  pro 
posal  was  referred  to  a  committee  ;  they  reported  against 
it,  the  house  accepted  the  report,  and  the  members  dis 
missed  from  their  minds  all  thoughts  of  the  expedition. 

124.  During  the  secret,  deliberations  the  people  watched 


MASSACHUSETTS.  53 

Avith  anxiety  to  ascertain  their  object.  The  disclosure 
was  made  by  an  honest  member,  who  incautiously,  in  his 
iamily  devotions,  prayed  for  the  divine  blessing  on  the 
attempt,  should  it  be  made.  The  people  were  instantly 
^struck  with  the  advantage  of  possessing  the  place.  When 
the  decision  was  made  known,  a  petition,  signed  by  a  large 
number  of  merchants,  was  presented  to  the  general  court, 
praying  them  to  comply  with  the  governor's  proposal.  The 
subject  was  again  discussed,  and  a  vote  in  favor  of  the 
expedition  was  passed  by  a  majority  of  one. 

125.  The  question  was  now  decided,  and  all  who  were 
before  averse  to  the  enterprise,  united  heartily  with  its 
supporters  to  carry  it  into  execution.     The  other  New- 
England  colonies  were  solicited,  and  agreed  to  furnish 
assistance;   and  a  boat   was  despatched  to,  commodore 
Warren,  in  the  West  Indies,  to  invite  his  co-operation. 
Colonel  Pepperell  was  appointed  commander-in-chief,  and 
Roger  Wolcott,  of  Connecticut,  second  in  command. 

126.  In  two  months,  an  army  of  more  than  four  thousand 
men  was  enlisted,  clothed,  victualled,  and  equipped  for 
service,  in  the  four  New-England  colonies,  which  did  not 
then  contain  four  hundred  thousand  inhabitants.     On  the 
23d  of  March,  the  despatch  boat  returned  from  the  West 
Indies,  with  advice  tjiat  commodore  Warren  declined  fur 
nishing  aid.     This  intelligence  was  kept  secret.     The 
troops  of  Massachusetts  embarked,  as  though  nothing  dis 
couraging  had  happened,  and  about  the  middle  of  April, 
they,  as  well  as  those  sent  by  Connecticut  and  New- 
Hampshire,  arrived  safe  at  Canso. 

127.  Commodore  Warren  had  but  just  despatched  his 
answer,  when  he  received  orders  to  repair  to  Boston  with 
such  ships  as  could  be  spared,  and  concert  measures  with 
governor  Shirley  for  his  majesty's  service  in  North  Ame 
rica.     He  sailed  instantly,  but  learning,  in  his  course,  that 
the  transports   had   left  Boston  for  Canso,   he   steered 
directly  for  that  place,  where  he  arrived  on  the  23d  of 
Apirl.    He  added  much  to  their  naval  strength,  and  much 
to  that  confidence,  which,  by  promising,  ensures  victory. 

128.  Several  vessels  of  war,  which  had  been  sent  to 
cruise  before  Louisburg,  had  captured  a  number  of  French 
ships,  and  prevented  any  intelligence  of  the  expedition 
from  reaching  the  enemy.     These  vessels  were  daily  in 
sight  of  the  place,  but  were  supposed  to  be  privateers,  and 
caused  no  alarm*     The  appearance  of  the  fleet,  on  the  30th 
of  April,  gave  the  French  the  first  intimation  of  their  danger. 


5  \  MASSACHUSETTS. 

1 29.  The  troops  immediately  landed,  and  the  next  day 
a  detachment  of  four  hundred,  marching  round  the  hills, 
approached  within  a  mile  of  the  grand  battery,  setting  fire 
to  all  the  houses  and  stores  on  the  way.     Many  of  these 
contained  pitch  and  tar,  which  produced  a  thick  smoke, 
that  completely  enveloped  the  invaders.     The  fears  of  the 
French  were  increased  by  their  uncertainty.     They  ima 
gined  the  whole  army  was  coming  upon  them,  and,  throw 
ing  their  powder  into  a  well,  deserted  the  battery,  of  which 
the  New-England  troops  took  possession  without  loss. 

130.  This  was  uncommon  good  fortune  ;  but  the  most 
difficult  labors  of  the  siege  remained  to  be  performed. 
The  cannon  were  to  be  drawn  nearly  two  miles,  over  a 
deep  morass,  in  plain  view,  and  within  gun-shot,  of  the 
enemy's  principal  fortifications.     For  fourteen  nights,  the 
troops,  with  straps  over  their  shoulders,  and  sinking  to 
their  knees  in  mud,  were  employed  in  this  service. 

131.  The  approaches  were  then  begun  in  the  mode  wrhich 
seemed  most  proper  to  the  shrewd  understandings  of  un 
taught  militia.     Those  officers,  who  were  skilled  in  the  art 
of  war,  talked  of  zigzags  and  epaulements ;  but  the  troops 
made  themselves  merry  with  the  terms,  and  proceeded  in 
their  own  way.     By  the  20th  of  May,  they  had  erected 
five  batteries,  one  of  which  mounted  five  forty-two  poun 
ders,  and  did  great  execution. 

132.  Meanwhile  the  fleet,  cruising  in  the  harbor,  had 
been  equally  successful.     It  captured  a  French  ship  of 
sixty-four  guns,  loaded  with  stores   for  the  garrison,  to 
whom  the  loss  was  as  distressing,  as  to  the  besiegers  the 
capture  was  fortunate.     English  ships  of  war,  were,  be 
sides,  continually  arriving,  and  added  such  strength  to  the 
fleet  that  a  combined  attack  upon  the  town  was  resolved 
upon.      The  enemy,  discovering  this  design,  deemed  it 
unwise  to  abide  the  hazard  of  an  assault.      On  the  15th 
of  June,  the  French  commander  proposed  a  cessation  of 
hostilities,  and,  on  the  17th  capitulated. 

133.  Intelligence  of  thi^  event,  flying  swiftly  through 
the  colonies,  diffused  great  and  universal  joy.     And  well 
might  the  citizens  of  New-England  be  elated  with  the 
glad  tidings.     Without  even  a  suggestion  from  the  mother 
country,  they  had  projected,  and,  with  but  little  assistance, 
had  achieved,  an  enterprise  of  vast  importance  to  her  and 
to  them.     Their  commerce  and  fisheries  were  now  secure, 
and  their  maritime  cities  relieved  from  all  fear  of  attack 
from  that  quarter. 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

134.  France,  fired  with  resentment  at  her  loss,  made 
extraordinary  exertions  to  retrieve  it,  and  to  inflict  chas 
tisement  on  New-England.     The  next  summer,  she  des 
patched  to  the  American  coast  a  powerful  fleet,  carrying  a 
large  number  of  soldiers.     The  news  of  its  approach  spread 
terror  throughout  New-England ;  but  an  uncommon  suc 
cession  of  disasters,  which  the  pious  of  that  time  attribut 
ed  to  the  special  interposition  of  Providence,  deprived  it 
of  all  power  to  inflict  injury.     After  remaining  a  short  time 
on  the  coast,  it  returned  to  France,  having  lost  two  admi 
rals,  both  of  whom,  it  was  supposed,  put  an  end  to  their 
lives  through   chagrin;  having  also,  by  tempests,  been 
reduced  to  one  half  its  force,  and  effected  nothing. 

135.  In  1748,  peace  was  concluded,  each  party  restoring 
all  its  prisoners  arid  conquests ;  a  striking,  but  not  uncom 
mon,  illustration  of  the  folly  of  war.     Louisburg,  though 
conquered  by  the   colonies,    was   exchanged,   by   Great 
Britain,  for   territories  which  she  had  lost  in  Europe. 
NewT-England  murmured  at  this  injustice;  but  what  avail 
the  murmurs  of  the  weak? 

136.  From  this  period  to  the  commencement  of  the  next 
French  war,  but  fewT  important  events  occurred  in  Massa 
chusetts.     The  bills  of  credit,  which  the  colony  had  issued 
to  defray  its  enormous  expenditure,  were  redeemed  by  the 
government,  at  their  depreciated  value.     This  example 
was  followed,  though  tardily,  by  the  other  governments. 
At  the  time  of  their  redemption,  they  were  worth  no  more, 
in  some  colonies,  than  one  tenth,  and  in  others,  one  tweu- 
4ieth,  of  the  sum  for  which  they  hatd  been  issued. 


CHAPTER  III. 
NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

WITH  the  history  of  Massachusetts,  the  parent  of  the 
New-England  colonies,  that  of  NewT-Hampshire  has  been 
necessarily  blended.  A  brief  relation  of  some  detached 
events,  which  occurred  in  the  latter  colony,  will  now  be 
given. 

2.  John  Mason,  Ferdinand  Gorges,  and  others,  having 
obtained,  of  the  Plymouth  or  New-England  Company, 
grants  of  several  tracts  of  land,  lying  north  of  Massachu 
setts,  sent  from  England,  in  1623.  a  few  persons  to  besrin 


bti  "ft  EW  -HAMi'SHIRE. 

a  settlement.  Part  landed,  and,  for  a  short  time,  remained" 
at  Little  Harbor,  on  the  west  side  of  Piscataqua  river,  and 
near  its  mouth,  Here  the  first  house  was  built,  which 
was  called  Mason  Hall.  The  remainder,  proceeding 
higher  up  the  river,  settled  at  Cocheco,  afterwards  called 
Dover. 

3.  Fishing  and  trade  being  the  principal  objects  of  these 
emigrants,  their  settlements  increased  slowly.     In  1629, 
the  territory  situated  between  Merrimac  and  Piscataqua 
rivers,  and  extending  sixty  miles  from  the  sea,  was  granted 
to  Mason  alone,  and  then  first  called   New-Hampshire. 
In  1631,  the  first  house  was  built  at  Portsmouth.     In  1638, 
the  Reverend  John  Wheelwright,  who,  in  1629,  but  pre 
vious  to  the  date  of  Mason's  patent,  had  purchased  the 
land  of  the  Indians,  laid  the  foundation  of  Exeter.     The 
next  year,  thirty-five   persons,   residing  in  that   town, 
combined  and  established  civil  government.     Within  a 
year  or  two  afterwards,  the  inhabitants  of  Dover  and 
Portsmouth  followed  their  example,  each  town  remaining 
distinct  and  independent. 

4.  In  1641,  these  little  republics,  distrusting  their  ability 
to  protect  themselves,  formed  a  coalition  with  Massachu 
setts,  and  long  remained  a  part  of  that  colony.     The  civil 
wars  in  England  diverted  the  attention  of  Mason  from  his 
grant,  and  those  who  migrated  to  the  country  purchased 
of  Wheelwright,  the  lands  which  they  occupied.     In  the 
war  with  Philip,  the  settlements  on  Piscataqua  and  Oyster 
rivers,  were  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and  suffered  severely. 

5.  In  1675,  Robert  Mason,  grandson  and  heir  of  John 
Mason,  applied  to  the  king  to  obtain  possession  of  the  ter 
ritory  and  rights  which  had  been  granted  to  his  ancestor. 
Notice  of  this  application  was  given  to  Massachusetts, 
and  the  parties  were  heard  before  the  king  in  council. 
In  1679,  a  decree  was  passed,  that  New-Hampshire  should 
be  constituted  a  separate  province,  to  be  ruled  by  a  presi 
dent  and  council,  who  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  king, 
and  a  house  of  representatives  to  be  chosen  by  the  people. 
No  decision  was  made  affecting  the  titles  to  land. 

6.  The  first  assembly,  consisting  of  eleven  members, 
met,  in  1680,  at  Portsmouth.     At  this  session,  a  code  of 
laws  was  adopted,  of  which  the  first,  in  a  style  worthy  of 
freemen,  declared,  "that  no  act,  imposition,  law,  or  ordi 
nance,  should  be  imposed  upqn  the  inhabitants  of  the 
province,  but  such  as  should  be  made  by  the  assembly, 
and  approved  by  the  president  and  council."    This  was 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE.  £7 

1  \velve  years  previous  to  the  enactment  of  a  similar  law  in 
Massachusetts. 

7.  In  the  same  year,  Mason,  who  had  been  appointed  a 
member  of  the  council,  arrived  in  the  colony.     He  assumed 
the  title  of  lord  proprietor,  claimed  the  soil  as  his  property, 
and  threatened  to  prosecute  all  who  would  not  take  from 
him  leases  of  the  lands  they  occupied.     His  pretensions 
were  resisted  by  most  of  the  inhabitants,  who  claimed  the 
fee-simple  of  the  soil  by  a  more  righteous,  if  not  more  " 
legal  title. 

8.  The  peace  of  the  colony  was  long  disturbed  by  these 
conflicting  claims.     At  the  head  of  those  who  contended 
with  Mason,  stood  major  Waldron,  of  Dover.     Against 
him,  and  many  others,  suits  were  instituted.     No  defence 
was  made,  judgments  were  obtained,  but  so  general  was 
the  hostility  to  Mason,  that  he  never  dared  to  enforce  them. 

9.  Over  Massachusetts  and  New-Hampshire,  the  same 
governor  usually  presided.     After  Andross  was  deposed, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  latter  colony  desired  to  be  incorpo 
rated  with  their  former  brethren.     Their  request  was 
opposed  by  Samuel  Allen,  who  had  purchased  Mason's 
title,  and  was  refused.     Allen  was  made  governor  of  the 
colony,  and,  by  his  influence,  John  Usher,  his  son-in-law, 
was  appointed  lieutenant  governor.     Under  his  adminis 
tration,  the  disputes,  occasioned  by  adverse  claims  to  land, 
continued  to  rage  with  increased  violence.     Other  suits 
were  instituted,  and  judgments  obtained ;  but  the  sheriff 
was  forcibly  resisted,  by  a  powerful  combination,  whenever 
he  attempted  to  put  the  plaintiff  in  possession. 

1 10.  From  Indian  wars  this  colony  suffered  more  than 
any  of  her  sisters.  The  surprise  of  Dover,  in  1689,  was 
attended  by  circumstances  of  the  most  shocking  barbarity. 
That  the  natives  had  been  cruelly  injured  by  major  Waldron, 
the  principal  citizen,  may  account  for,  if  not  extenuate, 
their  ferocity  in  obtaining  revenge. 

11.  Having  determined  upon  their  plan  of  attack,  they 
employed  more  than  their  usual  art,  to  lull  the  suspicions 
of  the  inhabitants.  So  civil  and  respectful  was  their 
behavior,  that  they  often  obtained  permission  to  sleep  in 
the  fortified  houses  in  the  town.  On  the  evening  of  the 
fatal  night,  they  assembled  in  the  neighborhood,  and  sent 
their  women  to  apply  for  lodgings,  at  the  houses  devoted 
to  destruction ;  who  were  not"  only  admitted,  but  were 
shown  how  they  could  open  the  doors  should  they  have 
occasion  to  go  out  in  the  night. 


5i  M:\V-iJAMFSfflRE. 

12.  When  all  was  quiet,  the  doors  were  opened  and  thr? 
Mgnal  Driven.     The  Indians  rushed  into  Waldron's  house, 
and  hastened  to  his  apartment.     Awakened  by  the  noise, 
he   seized    his   sword   and   drove  them  back,  but  when 
returning  for  his  other  arms,  was  stunned  with  a  hatchet, 
:md  fell.     They  then  dragged    him  into  his  hall,  seated 
him  in  an   dhow  chair,  upon  a   long  table,  and  insultingly 
v)s!«  (I  him,  "who  shall  judge  Indians  now?"  After  feasting 
upon  provisions,  which  they  compelled  the  rest  of  the 
family  to  procure,  each  one,  with  his  knife,  cut  gashes 
Across  his  breast, saying, "  I  cross  out  my  account."  When, 
weak,  ned  with  the  loss  of  blood,  he  was  about  to  fall  from 
the  table,  his  own   sword  was  held  under  him,  which  put 
an  end  to  his  misery. 

13.  At  other  houses,  similar  acts  of  cruelty  were  perpe 
trated.     In  the  whole,  twenty-three  persons  were  killed, 
twenty-nine  carried  prisoners  to  Canada,  and  mostly  sold 
to  the  French.     Remembering  kindness  as  well  us  injury, 
they  spared  one  woman,  who,  thirteen  y<?ars  before,  had 
conferred  a  favor  on  one  of  the  party.     Many  houses  were 
burned,  much  property  was  plundered,  and  so  expeditious 
•were  the  Indians,  that  they  had  fled  beyond  reach  before- 
the  neighboring  people  could  be  collected. 

14.  The  war  thus  commenced  was  prosecuted  with  great 
•vigor.     The  French,  by  giving  premiums  for  scalps,  and 
hy  purchasing  the  English  prisoners,  animated  the  Indians 
to  exert  all  their  activity  and  address,  and  the  frontier 
inhabitants  endured  the  most  aggravated  sufferings.    The 
settlements  on  Oyster  river  were  again  surprised;  twenty 
houses  were  burned,  and  nearly  one  hundred  persons  were 
Killed  or  made  prisoners.     Other  towns  were  attacked, 
many  persons  slain,  and  many  carried  into  captivity.     The 
pence  of  Ryswick,  in  1(507,  closed  the  distressing  scene, 
in  1703,  another  war  began,  which  continued  ten  years. 

lf>.  In  1719,  above  one  hundred  families,  mostly  Pres 
byterians,  emigrated  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  settled 
the  town  of  Londonderry.  They  introduced  the  foot, 
spinning-wheel,  the  manufacture  of  linen,  and  the  culture 
of  potatoes.  They  were  industrious,  hardy,  and  useful 
eiti'/cns. 

10.  From  1722,  to  1720,  the  inhabitants  again  suffered 
the  afflictions  of  an  Indian  war.  Following  the  example 
of  the  French,  1  he  government  offered  premiums  for  scalps, 
••which  induced  several  volunteer  companies  to  undertake 
.  •  \  nen'it  ions  against  the  enemy.  One  of  these,  commanded. 


CONNECTICUT.  59 

]>y  captain  Lovewell,  was  greatly  distinguished,  at  first  by 
its  successes,  arid  afterwards  by  its  misfortunes. 

17.  Long  after  the  transfer  from  Mason  to  Allen,  some 
defect  in  the  conveyance  was  discovered,  which  rendered 
it  void.    In  1746,  John  Tufton  Mason,  a  descendant  of 
the  original  grantee,  claiming  the  lands  possessed  by  his 
ancestors,  conveyed  them,  for  fifteen  hundred  pounds,  to 
twelve  persons,  subsequently  called  the  Masonian  proprie 
tors.     They,  to  silence  opposition,  voluntarily  relinquished 
their  claim  to  the  lands  already  occupied  by  others, 

18.  They  also  granted  townships  on  the  most  liberal 
terms.     Reserving  certain  portions  of  the  land  for  them 
selves,  for  the  first  settled  ministers,  and  for  schools,  they 
required  merely  that  the  grantees  should,  within  a  limited 
time,  erect  mills  and  meeting  houses,  clear  out  roads,  arid 
settle  ministers  of  the  gospel.     In  process  of  time,  nearly 
:ill  the  Masonian  lands,  being  about  one  fourth  of  the  whole, 
were,  in  this  manner,  granted ;  and  contention  and  lawsuits 
ceased  to  disturb  the  repose,  and  to  impede  the  prosperity 
•of  the  colony. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
CONNECTICUT. 

IN  1631,  viscount  Say  and  Seal,  lord  Brook,  and  others, 
obtained  from  the  Plymouth  Company,  in  England,  a  grant 
of  the  territory  which  now  constitutes  the  state  of  Con 
necticut  ;  and  so  little  was  then  known  of  the  geography 
of  the  new  world,  that  the  grant  was  made  to  extend,  in 
longitude,  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  South  Sea.  In 
the  same  year,  the  Indians,  living  on  Connecticut  river, 
1  laving  invited  the  colony  of  Plymouth  to  make  a  settlement 
on  their  lands,  governor  Winslow,  and  others,  visited  the 
country,  and  selected  a  place  near  the  mouth  of  the  little 
river  in  Windsor,  for  the  erection  of  a  trading  house. 

2.  The  Dutch  at  New- York,  apprized  of  this  project  of 
the  English,  and  determined  to  anticipate  them,  immedi 
ately  despatched  a  party,  who  erected  a  fort  at  Hartford. 
In  September,  1633,  a  company  from  Plymouth,  having 
prepared  the  frame  of  a  house,  put  it  on  board  a  vessel, 
:ind,  passing  the  fort,  conveyed  it  to  the  place  previously 
•••  k'cted.  In  October,  they  raised,  covered,  and  fortifirri 


GO  CONNECTICUT. 

it  with  palisades.  The  Dutch,  considering  them  intruders, 
sent,  the  next  year,  a  party  of  seventy  men  to  drive  them 
from  the  country,  but  finding  them  strongly  posted,  they 
relinquished  the  design. 

3.  In  the  autumn  of  1635,  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Dorchester   and  Watertown,  in  Massachusetts,  having 
heard  of  the  fertile  meadows  on  Connecticut  river,  re 
moved  thither,  and  began  settlements  at  Weathersfield 
and  Windsor.     During  the  next  winter,  their  sufferings 
from  famine  were  extreme.     So  destitute  were  they  oi* 
provisions,  that  many,  in  dread  of  starvation,  returned,  in 
December,  to  Massachusetts.     In  their  journey  through 
the  dreary  wilderness,  at  this  inclement  season,  they  en 
countered  indescribable  hardships. 

4.  In  the  same  autumn,  Mr.  Winthrop  arrived  from 
England,  with  instructions  from  the  patentees  to  erect  a 
fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  make  the  requisite 
preparation  for  planting  a  colony.     The  fort  was  but  just 
completed  when  a  party,  sent,  for  the  same  purpose,  by 
the  Dutch,  at  New- York,  arrived  in  a  vessel,  but  were 
not  permitted  to  land. 

5.  The  next  spring,  those  who  had  been  compelled  by 
famine  to  revisit  Massachusetts,  returned  to  Connecticut. 
In  June,  the  Reverend  Mr.  Hooker,  of  Cambridge,  and 
about  one  hundred  men,  women,  and  children,  belonging 
to  his  congregation,  travelling  through  the  wilderness, 
laid  the  foundation  of  Hartford.     They  were  nearly  two 
weeks  on  their  journey;  they  drove  their  cattle  with  them, 
and  subsisted,  by  the  way,  upon  the  milk  of  their  cows. 

6.  In  1637,  all  the  settlements  in  New  England  were 
involved  in  hostilities  with  the  Pequods,  a  tribe  of  Indians 
inhabiting  New  London  and  the  country  around  it.    Some 
account  of  this  war  has  been  given  in  the:  -history  of  Mas 
sachusetts.      Previous  to  any  expedition   against  them, 
they  had  killed  many  of  tho  emigrants  to  Connecticut, 
had  captured  others,  and  tortured  them  to  death.     In  the 
short  war  which   followed,  their  surviving  brethren,  for 
bravery  in  battle  and  fortitude  in  suffering,  were  not  sur 
passed  by  any  portion  of  the  English  troops. 

7.  At  first,  the  emigrants  acknowledged  the  authority 
of  Massachusetts.     In  January,  1639,  the  freemen,  having 
convened  at  Hartford,  adopted  a  constitution  for  them 
selves.    They  ordained  that  two  general  courts,  or  assem 
blies,  should  be  held  annually,  one  in  April,  the  other  in 
September;  that  at  the  court  held  in  April,  styled  the  court , 


CONNECTICUT.  tit 

of  election,  the  freemen  should  choose  a  governor,  six 
magistrates,  and  all  the  public  officers  ;  that  to  the  other, 
the  several  towns  should  send  deputies,  who,  in  conjunc 
tion  with  the  governor  and  magistrates,  were  authorized 
to  enact  laws,  and  perform  all  necessary  public  services, 
No  general  court,  could  be  adjourned  or  dissolved,  without 
the  consent  of  a  major  part  of  the  members. 

8.  In   the  same  year,   George   Fenwick;   one  of  the 
patentees,  came  over  with  his  family,  and  settled  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river.     In  honor  of  lord  Say  and  Seal,  and 
lord  Brook,  he  called  the  place  Saybrook.      Others  after 
wards  joined  him  ;  and  for  several  years,  they  were  gov 
erned  by  their  own  magistrates  and  laws.     In  1644,  Mr. 
Fenwick,   for   seven  thousand  dollars ;,   assigned   to  the 
general  court  of  Connecticut,  the  fort  at    Saybrook,   and 
all  the  rights  conferred  by  the  patent  from  the  Plymouth 
company  in  England.     This  settlement  then  became  a  part 
of  the  colony.     The  claim  of  Plymouth  colony,  founded 
upon  their  haying  first  made  an  establisliment  at  Windsor, 
had  been  previously  purchased. 

9.  In  the  mean  time,  another  colony  had  been  planted 
within  the  limits  of  the  Connecticut  patent.  In  June,  1637, 
two  large  ships  arrived  at   Boston,  from  England,  having 
on  board  Mr.  Davenport,  Mr.  Eaton,  and   many  others, 
whom  pious  motives  had  impelled    to  emigrate  to    New- 
England.     Being  highly  respectable,  and  some  of  them 
possessing  great  wealth,  the  general  court  of  Massachu 
setts,  desirous  of  detaining  them  in  the  colony,  offered 
them  any  place  they  might  select  for  a  plantation. 

10.  Wishing,  however,  to  institute  a  civil  and  religious 
community,  conforming  in  all  things   to  their   peculiar 
principles,  they  removed,  the  next  year,  to  Quinnipac, 
which  they  called  New  Haven.     Soon  after  their  arrival, 
at  the  close  of  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  they  subscribed 
what  they  termed  a  plantation  covenant,  solemnly  binding 
themselves,  "until  otherwise  ordered,  to  be  governed  in 
all  things,  of  a  civil  as  well  as  religious  concern,  by  the 
rules  which  the  scripture  held  forth  to  them."   They  pur 
chased  of  the  natives,  large  tracts  of  land  ;  and  laid  out 
their  towns  in  squares,  designing  it  for  a  great  and  elegant 
city. 

11.  In  1639,  all  the  free  planters,  assembled  in  a  large 
barn,  proceeded  to  lay  the  foundation  of  their  civil  and 
religious  polity.     They  resolved  that  none  but  church 
"members  should  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  voting,  or  be 


fa  CONNECTICUT. 

elected  to  office;  that  all  the  freemen  should  annually 
assemble  and  elect  the  officers  of  the  colony ;  and  that 
the  word  of  God  should  be  the  only  rule  for  ordering  the 
affairs  of  the  commonwealth.  Such  was  the  original  con 
stitution  of  New-Haven  ;  but  as  the  population  increased, 
and  new  towns  were  settled,  different  regulations  were 
adopted,  and  the  institutions  and  laws  became  gradually 
assimilated  to  those  of  Connecticut. 

12.  With  the  Dutch  at  New- York,  both  colonies  had 
constant  and  vexatious  disputes.     The  former  claimed  all 
the  territory  as  far  east  as  Connecticut  river ;  the  latter 
complained  that  the  Dutch  often  plundered  their  property ; 
that  they  sold  guns  and  ammunition  to  the  Indians,  and 
even  encouraged  them  to  make  war  upon  the  English. 
The  fear  of  attack  from  that  quarter,  was  one  of  the  rea 
sons  which,  in  1643,  induced  the  colonies  of  New-England 
to  form  a  confederation  for  their  mutual  defence. 

13.  In  1650,  a  treaty  of  amity  and  partition  was  con 
cluded  at  Hartford,  between  the  English  and  Dutch,  the 
latter  relinquishing  their  claim  to  the  territory  of  Connec 
ticut,   except  the  lands  which  they  actually  occupied. 
Soon  after,  England  and  Holland  were  involved  in  war 
with  each  other,  but  their  colonies  in  America  agreed  to 
remain  at  peace.     Notwithstanding  this  agreement,  the 
Dutch  governor  was  detected  in  concerting  with  the  In 
dians  a  plot  for  the  total  extirpation  of  the  English. 

14.  Connecticut   and   New-Haven   were   alarmed;   a 
meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  united  colonies,  was 
called,  and  evidence  of  the  plot  laid  before  them.     A 
majority  was  in  favor  of  war ;  but  the  colony  of  Massa 
chusetts,  being  remote  from  the  danger,  was  averse  to  it. 
As  she  was  much  stronger  than  either  of  the  others,  it 
•\vas,  at  the  suggestion  cf  her  deputies,  resolved,  that 
agents  should  first  be  sent  to  demand  of  the  Dutch  gov 
ernor  an  explanation  of  his  conduct. 

15.  The  agents  obtained  no  satisfactory  explanation. 
On  their  return,  another  meeting  of  the  commissioners 
was  held  at  Boston,  additional  testimony  was  laid  before 
them,  and  several  ministers  of  Massachusetts  were  invited 
to  assist  at  their  deliberations,  a  practice  not  unusual  at 
that  period. 

16.  The  opinion  of  these  ministers  being  requested, 
they  observed,  "  that  the  proofs  of  the  execrable  plot, 
tending  to  the  destruction  of  the  dear  saints  of  God,  were 
of  such  weight  as  to  induce  them  to  believe  the  reality 


CONNECTICUT.  <# 

t>f  it  |  yet  they  were  not  so  fully  conclusive  as  to  bear  up 
their  hearts  with  the  fulness  of  persuasion  which  was 
meet  in  commending  the  case  to  God  in  prayer,  and  to 
the  people  in  exhortations ;  and  that  it  would  be  safest  for 
the  colonies  to  forbear  the  use  of  the  sword." 

17.  But  all  the  commissioners,  except  one,  were  of 
opinion  that  recent  aggressions  justified,  and  self  preser 
vation  dictated,  an  appeal  to  the  sword.    They  were  about 
to  declare  war,  when  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts 
in  direct  violation  of  one  of  the  articles  of  the  confedera 
tion,  resolved,  "  that  no  determination  of  the  commission 
ers,  though  all  should  agree,  should  bind  the  colony  td 
engage  in  hostilities." 

18.  At  this  declaration,  Connecticut  and  New-Haven 
felt  alarmed  and  indignant.     They  considered  the  other 
colonies  too  weak,  without  the  assistance  of  Massachu 
setts,  to  contend  with  the  Dutch  and  their  Indian  allies. 
They  argued*  entreated,  and  remonstrated,  but  she  contin 
ued  inflexible.     They  then  represented  their  danger  to 
Cromwell,  and  implored  his  assistance.     He,  with  his 
usual  promptitude,  sent  a  fleet  for  their  protection,  and  for 
the  conquest  of  their  enemies ;  but  peace  in  Europe,  intelli 
gence  of  which  reached  New-England  soon  after  the  arrival 
of  the  fleet,  saved  the  Dutch  from  subjugation,  and  relieved 
the  colonies  from  the  dread  of  massacre. 

19.  After  Charles  II  was  restored  to  the  throne,  Con 
necticut  applied  to  him  for  a  royal  charter.     A  trifling 
circumstance  induced   him,  forgetting   all   his  arbitrary 
maxims,  to  comply  with  her  wishes  to  their  utmost  extent. 
Her  agent,  Mr.   Winthrop,  having  an  extraordinary  ring, 
which  had  been   given  to  his    grandfather  by  Charles  I, 
presented  it  to  his  son.     He  immediately  granted  a  char 
ter,  more  liberal  in  its  provisions  than  any  that  had  yet 
been  granted,  and  confirming,  in  every  particular,  the 
constitution  which  the  people  had  themselves  adopted. 

20.  This  charter  comprehended  New-Haven ;  but,  for 
several  years,  the  people  of  that  colony  utterly  refused  to 
consent  to  the  union.     In  this  opposition  to  the  commands 
of  the  king,  and  the  remonstrances  of  Connecticut,  they 
persevered  until    1665,  when  the  apprehension   of  the 
appointment  of  a  general  governor,  and  of  their  being 
united  with  some  other  colony,  having  a  charter  less  favor 
able  to  liberty,  impelled  them,  though  reluctantly,  to  yield. 

21.  In  the  war  with  Philip,  which  began  in  1675,  Con 
necticut  suffered  less  than  her  sister  colonies.    Her  aid, 


£4  CONNECTICUT. 

however,  in  full  proportion  to  her  strength,  was  always 
freely  afforded ;  and  no  troops  surpassed  her  volunteers  in 
bravery  and  enterprise.  A  large  number,  and  many  of 
them  officers,  were  killed  at  the  assault  upon  the  fort  at 
Narraganset. 

22.  In  1686,  king  James  II,  desirous  of  annulling,  not 
only  the  charters  which  had  been  granted  to  his  EngHsh 
cities,  but  those  also  which  had  been  granted  to  his  Ameri 
can  colonies,  summoned  the  governor  of  Connecticut  to 
appear  and  show  cause  why  her  charter  should  not  be 
declared  void.     And  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  who  had  been 
appointed  governor  of  New- England,  advised  the  colony, 
as  the  course  best  calculated  to  ensure  the  good  will  of 
his  majesty,  to  resign  it  voluntarily  into  his  hands,  he 
having  been   instructed  to  receive  it.     But  the   people 
estimated  too  highly  the  privileges  it  conferred  to  surrender 
it  until  necessity  compelled  them. 

23.  Sir  Edmund,  therefore,  repaired,  with  a  body  of 
troops,  to  Hartford,  when  the  assembly  were  in  session, 
and  demanded  of  them  the  charter.     They  hesitated  and 
debated  until  evening.     It  wTas  then  produced  and  laid  upon 
the  table,  a  large  number  of  people  being  present.     Sud 
denly,  the  candles  were  extinguished.     With  counterfeited 
haste v they  were  again  relighted ;  but  the  charter  could  no 
where  be  found.     In  the  dark,  it  had  been  privately  carried 
off,  by  a  captain  Wadsworth,  and  concealed  in  a  hollow- 
tree.     Sir  Edmund,  however,  assumed  the  government  of 
the  colony,  and  ruled  with  the  same  absolute  sway,  though 
not  with  the  same  oppressive  tyranny,  as  in  Massachusetts. 

24.  When  James  was  driven  from  his  throne  and  king 
dom,  and  his  governor  deposed,  Connecticut  resumed  her 
former   government.      The   assembly  voted  a  flattering 
address  to  king  William.     The  suit,  instituted  for  the 
purpose  of  annulling  her  charter,  was  abandoned ;  and  her 
inhabitants,  while  enjoying  greater  privileges  than  any  of 
their  brethren,  had  reason  to  congratulate  themselves  upon 
their  address  and  good  fortune  in  preserving  them. 

25.  But,  not  long  afterwards,  they  were  again  called 
upon  to  defend  these  privileges  from  encroachment.     In 
1692,  colonel  Fletcher  was  appointed  governor  of  New- 
York,  and  was  authorized,  by  his  commission,  to  take 
command  of  the  militia  of   Connecticut.    This   power 
having  been  given,  by  the  charter,  to  the  governor  of  the 
colony,  he  determined  not  to  relinquish  it,  and  in  this 
determination  was  supported  by  the  people. 


CONNECTICUT.  03 

26.  The  next  year,  when  the  general  court  were  in 
Cession,  colonel  Fletcher  repaired  to  Hartford,  and  required 
tha't  the  militia  of  the  colony  should  be  placed  under  his 
command.    This  was  resolutely  refused.    He  then  ordered 
the  trainbands  of  the  city  to  be  assembled.     This  being 
done,  he  appeared  before  them,  and  directed  his  aid  to  read 
to  them  his  commission  and  instructions  from  the  king. 

27.  Captain  Wadsworth,  the  senior  officer  of  the  militia 
present,  instantly  ordered  the  drums  to  beat?  and  such  was 
the  noise,  that  nothing  else  could  be  heard.     Colonel 
Fletcher  commanded  silence  ;  and  again  his  aid  began  to 
read.     "  Drum,  drum,  I  say,"  exclaimed  Wadsworth,  and 
a  command  so  acceptable  to  the  players,  was  obeyed  with 
spirit.     Once  more  the  colonel  commanded  silence,  and  a 
pause  ensued.     "  Drum,  drum,  I  say,"  cried  the  captain, 
and  turning  to  governor  Fletcher,  addressed  him,  with 
energy  in  his  voice  and  meaning  in  his  looks,  "  If  I  am 
interrupted  again,  I  will  make  the  sun  shine  through  you 
in  a  moment." 

28.  Deeming  it  unwise  to  contend  with  such  a  spirit-, 
colonel  Fletcher  desisted,  left  Hartford  the  next  night, 
and  returned  to  New- York.     A  representation  of  the 
opposing  claims  being  made  to  the  king,  he  decided  that 
the  governor  of  Connecticut  should  have  the  command  of 
the  militia ;  but  in  time  of  war,  a  certain  nuifrber  should 
be  placed  under  the  orders  of  Fletcher. 

29.  In  1700,  Yale  college  was  founded.     It  owes  its 
existence  to  the  beneficence  and  public  spirit  of  the  clergy. 
It  was  first  established  at  Saybrook;  and,  in  1702,  the 
first  degrees  were  there  conferred.     Elihu  Yale  made 
several  donations  to  the  institution,  and:  from  him  it  derives 
the  name  it  bears.     A  succession  of  able  instmcters  has 
raised  it  to  the  second  rank  among  the  literary  institutions 
of  the  country. 

30.  In   1708,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature, 
requiring  the  ministers  and  delegates  of  churches  to  meet 
and  form  an  ecclesiastical  constitution  for  the  colony.     A 
meeting  °was  in  consequence  held  at  Saybrook,  the  result 
of  which  was  the  celebrated  Saybrook  platform.     At  the= 
subsequent  session  of  the  legislature,  it  was  enacted  that 
all  the  churches,  united  according  to  this  platform,  should 
be  owned  as  established  by  law,  allowing,  however,  to 
<other  churches,  the  right  of  exercising  worship -and  disci 
pline  in  their  own  way,  according  to  their  consciences. 

31.  In  the  several  abortive  attempts  to  redue^be  French 

F  2 


66  11HODE  ISLAND. 

settlements  in  Canada,  and  in  the  expedition  against  Louis- 
burg,  Connecticut  furnished  her  full  quota  of  troops,  and 
bore  her  proportion  of  the  expenses.  Of  these,  a  history 
is  elsewhere  given.  After  the  death  of  Philip,  most  of  the 
Indians  abandoned  her  territory,  and  seldom  returned  to 
molest  the  inhabitants ;  who,  living  in  the  enjoyment  of 
all  the  privileges  they  desired,  felt  no  inducement,  and 
were  afforded  no  opportunity,  to  perform  such  actions  as- 
enliven  the  pages  of  history. 


CHAPTER  V. 
RHODE  ISLAND. 

WILLIAMS,  who  was  banished  from  Massachu 
setts,  for  avowing  the  doctrine,  that  the  civil  magistrate  is 
bound  to  grant  equal  protection  to  every  denomination  of 
Christians,  a  doctrine  too  liberal  for  the  age  in  which  he 
lived,  repaired  to  Seeconk,  where  he  procured  a  grant  of 
land  from  the  Indians.  Being  informed,  by  the  governor 
of  Plymouth,  that  the  land  was  within  the  limits  of  that 
colony,  he  proceeded  to  Mooshausic,  where,  in  1636,  with 
those  friends  who  followed  him,  he  began  a  plantation. 

2.  He  purchased  the  land  of  the  Indians,  and,  in  grateful 
acknowledgment  of  the  kindness  of  heaven,  he  called  the 
place  Providence.     Acting  in  conformity  with  the  wise 
and  liberal  principle,  for  avowing  and  maintaining  which, 
he  had  suffered  banishment,  he  allowed  entire  freedom  of 
conscience  to  all  who  came  within  his  borders.     And  to 
him  must  be  given  the  glory  of  having  first  set  a  practical 
example  of  the  equal  toleration  of  all  religious  sects  in  the 
same  political  community. 

3.  His  benevolence  was  not  confined  to  his  civilized 
brethren.     He  labored  to  enlighten,  improve,  and  conciliate 
the  savages.     He  learned  their  language,  travelled  among 
them,  and  gained  the  entire  confidence  of  their  chiefs. 
He  had  often  the  happiness,  by  his  influence  over  them, 
of  saving  from  injury  the  colony  that  had  proclaimed  him 
an  outlaw,  and  driven  him  into  the  wilderness. 

4.  In  1638,  William  Coddington,  and  seventeen  others, 
being  persecuted  for  their  religious  tenets  in  Massachusetts, 
followed  Williams  to  Providence.     By  his  advice,  they 
purchased  of  the  Indians  the  island  of  Aquetnec,  now 


RHODE  ISLAND  6? 

called  Rhode  Island,  and  removed  thither.  CoddingtoA 
ivas  chosen  their  judge,  or  chief  magistrate.  The  fertility 
of  the  soil,  and  the  toleration  of  all  Christian  sects,  attracted 
numerous  emigrants  from  the  adjacent  settlements. 

5.  When  the  New-England  colonies,  in  1643,  formed 
their  memorable  confederacy,  Rhode  Island  applied  to  be 
admitted  a  member.     Plymouth  objected ;  asserting  that 
the  settlements  were  within  her  boundaries-     The  com 
missioners  decided  that  Rhode  Island  might  enjoy  all  the 
advantages  of  the  confederacy,  if  she  would  submit  to  the 
jurisdiction  of  Plymouth.    She  declined,  proudly  preferring 
independence  to  all  the  benefits  of  dependent  union. 

6.  In  1644,  Williams,  having  been  sent  to  England  as* 
agent   for  both   settlements,  obtained  of  the  Plymouth. 
Company,  a  patent  for  the  territory,  and  permission  for  the 
inhabitants  to  institute  a  government  for  themselves.     In 
1647,  delegates  chosen  by  the  freemen,  held  a  general 
assembly  at  Portsmouth,  organized  a  government,  and 
established  a  code  of  laws-     The  executive  power  was: 
confided  to  a  president  and  four  assistants. 

7.  Upon  the  application  of  the  inhabitants,  the  king,  in. 
1663,  granted  a  charter  to  Rhode  Island  and  Providence 
Plantations.     The  supreme,  or  legislative  power,  was  to 
be  exercised  by  an  assembly,  which  was  to  consist  of  the 
governor,  of  ten  assistants,  and  of  representatives  from 
the  several  towns,  all  to  be  chosen  by  the  freemen.     This 
assembly  granted  to  all  Christian  sects,  except  Roman 
Catholics,  the  right  of  voting.     In  1665,  they  authorized, 
by  law,  the  seizure  of  the  estates  of  Quakers,  who  refused 
to  assist  in  defending  the  colony ;  but  this  law,  being  gene 
rally  condemned  by  the  people,  was  never  executed. 

8.  When  Andross  was  made  governor  over  New-Eng 
land,  he  dissolved  the  charter  government  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  ruled  the  colony,  with  the  assistance  of  a  council 
appointed  by  himself.    After  he  was  imprisoned,  at  Boston, 
the  freemen  met  at  Newport,  and  voted  to  resume  their 
charter.    All  the  officers  who,  three  years  before,  had  been 
displaced,  were  restored. 

9.  The  benevolence,  justice,  and  pacific  policy  of  Wil 
liams,  secured  to  the  colony  an  almost  total  exemption 
from  Indian  hostility.     In  1730,  the  number  of  inhabitants 
was  18,000  ;  in  1761,  it  was  40,000.     Brown  University 
was  founded,  at  Warren,  in  1764,  and  was  removed,  a  few5 
years  after,  to  Providence.    Its  founder  was  Nichoks* 
Brown,  who  gave  to  the  institution  five  thousand  dollars  ''* 


CHAPTER  Vl. 
NEW-YORK. 

IN  16t)9,  Henry  Hudson,  an  Englishman,  but  sailing  id 
the  service  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  discovered 
Long  Island,  the  harbor  of  New- York,  and  the  river  to 
which  his  name  has  been  given.  In  1613,  several  Dutch 
merchants,  to  whom  the  republic  of  Holland  had  granted 
the  exclusive  right  of  trading  to  this  part  of  America, 
erected  a  fort  near  Albany,  which  they  named  fort  Orange, 
and  a  few  trading  houses  on  the  island  of  New- York,  then 
called,  by  the  Indians,  Manhattan. 

2.  In  the  same  year,  captain  Argal,  who  had  been  sent 
by  Virginia  to  drive  the  French  from  their  settlements  on 
the  bay  of  Fundy,  visited,  on  his  return,  the  Dutch  on 
Hudson's  river.     Claiming  the  country  for  his  nation,  by 
right  of  prior  discovery,  he  demanded  the  acknowledgment 
of  its  authority.     Being  few  in  number,  they  prudently 
submitted,  without  attempting  to  resist. 

3.  But,  receiving  a  reinforcement,  the  next  year,  they 
again  asserted  the  right  of  Holland  to  the  country,  anH 
erected  fort  Amsterdam,  on  the  south  end  of  the  island. 
The  English,  for  many  years,  forebore  to  interfere  in  their 
pursuits  or  claims.     In  1621,  the  republic,  desirous  of 
founding  a  colony  in  America,  granted  to  the  Dutch  West 
India  Company,  an  extensive  territory  on  both  sides  of 
the  Hudson.     The  country  was  called  New-Netherlands. 
The  boundaries  were  not  accurately  defined,  but  were 
considered,  by  the  company,  as  including  Connecticut  river 
at  the  north,  and  Delaware  river  at  the  south. 

4.  In  1623,  they  erected  a  fort  on  the  Delaware,  which 
they  called  Nassau ;  and,  ten  years  aftewards,  another  on 
the  Connecticut,  which  they  called  Good  Hope.     Near  the 
former,  the  Swedes  had  a  settlement.     From  the  inter 
fering  claims  of  the  two  nations,  quarrels  arose  between 
the  settlers,  Which,  after  continuing  several  years,  termi 
nated  in  the  subjugation  of  the  Swedes.     Towards  the 
fort  dn  the  Connecticut,  the  settlements  of  the  'English 
rapidly  approached,  and  soon  occasioned  disputes,  which 
had  a  longer  duration  and  a  different  result. 

5.  The  Dutch  did  not  escape  the  calamity  of  war  with 
the  savages.     Hostilities  commenced  in  1643,  continued 

l  years,  and  were  very  destructive  to*  both  parties. 


NEW-YOftK.  6? 

William  Kieft,  the  governor  of  the  New-Netherlands,, 
invited  captain  Underfill,  who  had  been  a  soldier  in  Europe, 
and  had  made  himself  conspicuous  in  New-Hampshire,  by 
his  eccentricities  in  religion  and  conduct,  to  take  command 
of  his  troops.  Collecting  a  flying  party  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  he  was  enabled  to  preserve  the  Dutch  settlements 
from  total  destruction.  The  number  of  Indians,  whom  he 
killed  in  the  course  of  the  war,  was  supposed  to  exceed 
four  hundred.  In  1646,  a  severe  battle  was  fought  on  that 
part  of  Horse-neck  called  Strickland's  Plain.  The  Dutch 
were  victorious ;  on  both  sides  great  numbers  were  slain^j 
and  for  a  century  afterwards  the  graves  of  the  dead  were 
distinctly  visible. 

6.  In  1650,  Peter  Stuyvesant,  then  the  able  governor 
of  the  New-Netherlands,  met  the  commissioners  of  tho 
New-England  colonies  at  Hartford,  where,  after  muck 
altercation,  a  line  of  partition  between  their  respective 
territories  was  fixed  by  mutual  agreement.     Long  Island 
was  divided  between  them ;  the  Dutch  retained  the  lands 
which  they  occupied  in  Connecticut,  surrendering  their 
claim  to  the  residue. 

7.  But  Charles  II,  denying  their  right  to  any  portion  of 
the  country,  determined  to  expel  them  from  it.     In  1664, 
he  granted  to  his  brother,  the  duke  of  York  and  Albany, 
all  the  territory  between  Nova  Scotia  and  Delaware  bay ; 
and  though  England  and  Holland  were  then  at  peace, 
immediately  sent  three  ships  and  three  hundred  troops  to 
put  him  in  possession  of  his  grant.    Colonel  Robert  Nichols 
conducted  the  expedition.     The  squadron,  having  visited 
Boston,  reached  the  place  of  its  destination  in  August. 

8.  The  commander  summoned  governor  Stuyvesant  t» 
surrender  the  town,  promising  to  secure  to  the  inhabitants 
their  lives,  liberty,  and  property.     At  first,  he  refused ; 
but  the  magistrates  and  people,  allured  by  the  proffered 
terms,  constrained  him  to  consent.     Fort  Orange  surren 
dered,  soon  after,  to  Sir  George  Carteret.     In  compliment 
to  the  duke,  the  name,  Manhattan,  was  changed  to  New- 
York,  and  Orange  to  Albany. 

9.  Nichols  assumed  the  government  of  the  country  he 
had  conquered,  and  continued,  for  three  years,  to  rule  over 
it,  with  absolute  power,  but  with  great  lenity  and  justice* 
During  his  administration,  New- York  was  made  a  city* 
Upon  his  return  to  England,  he  was  succeeded  by  colonel 
Lovelace,  who  administered  the  government  with 
moderation. 


76  NEW-YORK. 

10.  In  1673,  England  and  Holland  being  then  at  toar;  3 
few  Dutch  ships  were  despatched  to  reconquer  the  country. 
On  their  arrival  at  Staten  Island,  a  short  distance  from  the 
city,  John  Manning,  who  had  command  of  the  fort,  sent 
down  a  messenger  arid  treacherously  made  terms  with  the 
enemy.      The  Dutch  sailed  up  the  harbor,  landed  their 
men,  and  took  possession  of  the  fort  and  city,  without 
firing  or  receiving  a  shot, 

1 1.  Captain  Anthony  Colve  was  appointed  governor,  but 
he  retained  the  authority  for  a  few  months  only.     The 
next  year*  peace  was  concluded,  and  the  country  restored 
to  the  English.     The  duke  obtained  a  new  patent >  confirm 
ing  his  title  to  the  province,  and  appointed  major  Andross, 
the  same  who  was  afterwards  the  tyrant  of  New-England, 
to  be  governor  over  his  territories  in  America. 

12.  Neither  the  administration  of  Andross,  nor  that  of 
his  successor,  Anthony  Brockholst,  was  distinguished  by 
any  remarkable  event.     In  1682,  colonel  Thomas  Dongan, 
who,  as  well  as  the  duke,  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  was- 
appointed  governor,  and  the  next  year  arrived  in  the  colony. 
Until  this  time,  the  governor  and  council  had  possessed 
absolute  power.     The  inhabitants,  who,  whether  Dutch 
or  English,  were  born  the  subjects  of  a  state  comparatively 
free,  having,  in  an  address  to  the  duke,  claimed  a  share  in 
the  legislative  authority,  colonel  Dongan  was  directed  to 
allow  the  freeholders  to  meet  and  choose  representatives. 

13.  On  the  17th  of  October,  the  first  assembly  met, 
consisting  of  the  council  and  eighteen  representatives. 
By  the  declaration  of  the  governor,  they  were  invested 
-with  the  sole  power  of  enacting  laws  and  levying  taxes ; 
but  the  laws  could  have  no  force  until  ratified  by  the  duke. 
With  this  participation  of  power,  the  people  were  gratified 
and  contented ;  and  the  colony  began  to  enjoy  the  inestim 
able  advantages  of  a  regular  government. 

14.  The  interior  of  New- York  was  originally  inhabited 
by  a  confederacy  which  consisted  at  first  of  five,  and  after- 
Avards  of  six,  nations  of  Indians.     This  confederacy  was 
formed  for  mutual  defence  against  the  Algonquins,  a  power 
ful  Canadian  nation,  and  displayed  much  of  the  wisdom 
and  sagacity  which  mark  the  institutions  of  a  civilized 
people.     By  their  union,  they  had  become  formidable  to 
the  surrounding  tribes.     Being  the  allies  of  the  English, 
the  French  were  alarmed  at  their  successes,  and  became 
jealous  of  their  power. 

?<5.  In  1684,  De  la  Barre,  the  governor  of  Canada, 


marched  to  attack  them,  with  an  army  of  seventeen  hun 
dred  men.  His  troops  suffered  so  much  from  hardships* 
famine,  and  sickness,  that  he  was  compelled  to  ask  peace 
of  those  whom  he  had  come  to  exterminate.  He  invited 
the  chiefs  of  the  five  nations  to  meet  him  at  his  camp, 
and  those  of  three  of  them  accepted  the  invitation. 
Standing  in  a  circle,  formed  by  the  chiefs  and  his  own 
officers,  he  addressed  a  speech  to  Garrangula,  of  the 
Onondago  tribe,  in  which  he  accused  the  confederates  of 
conducting  the  English  to  the  trading  grounds  of  the 
French,  and  threatened  them  with  war  and  extermination 
if  they  did  not  alter  their  behavior. 

16.  Garrangula,  knowing  the  distresses  of  the  French 
troops,  heard  these  threats  with  contempt.     After  walking 
five  or  six  times  round  the  circle,  he  addressed  the  follow 
ing  bold  and  sarcastic  language  to  De  la  Barre,  calling  him. 
Yonnondio,  and  the  English  governor,  Goriear. 

17.  "  Yonnondio,  I  honor  you,  and  the  warriors  that  arf* 
with  me  likewise  honor  you.   Your  interpreter  has  finished 
your  speech ;  I  now  begin  mine.     My  words  make  haste 
to  reach  your  ears ;  hearken  to  them.     Yonnondio,  you 
must  have  believed,  when  you  left  Quebec,  that  the  sun 
had  consumed  all  the  forests  which  render  our  country 
inaccessible  to  the  French,  or  that  the  great  lakes  had 
overflown  their  banks  and  surrounded  our  castles,  so  that 
it  was  impossible  for  us  to  get  out  of  them.     Yes,  Yon 
nondio,  you  must  have  dreamed  so,  and  the  curiosity  of  so 
great  a  wonder  has  brought  you  so  far.     Now  you  are  un 
deceived,  for  I,  and  the  warriors  here  present,  are  come  tQ 
assure  you,  that  the  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Onqndagos,  Qney- 
does,  and  Mohawks,  are  yet  alive. 

18.  "  I  thank  you,  in  their  name,  for  bringing  back  into 
their  country  the  pipe  of  peace,  which  your  predecessor 
received  from  their  hands.     It  was  happy  for  you  that 
you  left  under  ground  that  murdering  hatchet  which  has 
been  so  often  dyed  in  the  blood  of  the  French.     Hear, 
Yonnondio,  I  do  not  sleep ;  I  have  my  eyes  open,  and  the 
sun  which  enlightens  me,  discovers  to  me  a  great  captain 
at  the  head  of  a  company  of  soldiers,  who  speaks  as  if  he 
was  dretming.     He  says  that  he  only  came  to  smoke  the 
great  pipe  of  peace  with  the  Ononda^os.   But  Garrangula 
says,  that  he  sees  the  contrary ;  that  it  was  to  knock  theru 
on  the  head,  if  sickness  had  not  weakened  the  arms  of 
the  French. 

10.  «  We  carried  the  English  to  our  lakes*  to  trade  tji£;s 


*with  the  Utawawas,  and  Quatoghies,  as  the  Adirondack 
brought  the  French  to  our  castles  to  carry  on  a  trade  which 
t'he  English  say  is  theirs.  We  are  born  free ;  we  neither 
depend  on  Yonnondio  nor  Corlear.  We  may  go  where  we 
please,  and  buy  and  sell  what  we  please.  If  your  allies 
are  your  slaves,  use  them  as  such ;  command  them  to 
jeceive  no  other  but  your  people. 

20.  "  Hear,  Yonnondio ;  what  I  say  is  the  voice  of  all 
the  Five  Nations.     When  they  buried  the  hatchet  at 
Cadaracui,  in  the  middle  of  the  fort,  they  planted  the  tree 
of  peace  in  the  same  place,  to  be  there  carefully  preserved, 
Jhat  instead  of  a  retreat  for  soldiers,  the  fort  might  be  a 
jcndezvous  for  merchants.     Take  care  that  the  many 
soldiers  who  appear  there,  do  not  choke  the  tree  of  peace, 
and  prevent  it  from  covering  your  country  and  ours  with 
its  branches.     I  assure  you  that  our  warriors  shall  dance 
under  its  leaves,  and  will  never  dig  up  the  hatchet  to  cut 
it  down,  till  their  brother  Yonnondio  or  Corlear  shall 
i'nvade  the  country  which  the  Great  Spirit  has  given  to 
*ur  ancestors." 

21.  De  la  Barre  was  mortified  and  enraged  at  this  bold 
xeply;  but,  submitting  to  necessity,  he  concluded  a  treaty 
of  peace,  and  returned  to  Montreal.     His  successor,  De 
jNonville,  led  a  larger  army  against  the  confederates ;  but 
All  into  an  ambuscade  and  was  defeated.     These  wars 
•within  the  limits  of  the  colony,  kept   colonel  Dongan 
actively  employed,  and  served  to  perpetuate  the  enmity  of 
*he  Indians  against  the  French,  and  their  attachment  to 
the  English. 

22.  In  the  mean  time,  the  duke  of  York  ascended  the 
throne  of  England.     Claiming  unlimited  authority  as  king, 
and  professing  the  Catholic  religion,  he  was  hated  and 
feared  by  a  great  portion  of  the  inhabitants,  who  were 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  to  the  principles  of 
the  protestants.     The  governor  was  also  an  object  of  their 
dislike  and  distrust.      Catholics,  countenanced  by  him, 
repaired  in  great  numbers  to  the  colony,  and  pious  protest- 
ants  trembled  for  their  religion. 

23.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1689,  information  was 
Deceived  from  England  that  the  people  had  resolved  to 
dethrone  their  sovereign,  and  offer  the  crown  to  William, 
prince  of  Orange ;  and  from  Massachusetts,  that  the  citizens 
had  deposed  and  imprisoned  Sir  Edmund  Andross,  their 
governor.     This  encouraged  the  disaffected,  and  presented 
Jtn  example  for  their  imitation. 


SM.  Several  militia  captains  assembled  to  determine  on 
the  measures  expedient  to  be  adopted.  Of  these,  Jacob 
Leisler  was  the  most  active.  He  was  destitute  of  every 
qualification  necessary  to  conduct  a  difficult  enterprise, 
but  possessed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  other 
officers,  and  of  the  people.  Milborne,  his  son-in-law, 
concerted  all  his  measures,  and  controlled  his  conduct. 

25.  They  determined  to  obtain  possession  of  the  fort. 
Leisler  entered  it  with  fifty  men,  and  published  a  declara 
tion  in  favour  of  the  prince  of  Orange.     The  magistrates 
and  most  respectable  citizens  discountenanced  the  pro 
ceeding,  and,  at  first,  but  few  had  the  courage  to  declare 
themselves  his  friends.     To  induce  them  to  act,  a  report 
was  circulated  that  three  ships,  with  orders  from  the 
prince,  were  sailing  up  the  harbour.  His  party  was  instantly 
augmented  by  six  captains,  and  nearly  five  hundred  men, 
a  force  sufficient  to  overpower  all  opposition. 

26.  Before  these  disturbances,  colonel  Dongan  had  re 
signed  his  office,  and  embarked  for  England.    Lieutenant- 
governor   Nicholson,   unable   to    contend  with   Leisler, 
absconded  in  the  night.     The  province  being  thus  left 
without  a  chief  magistrate,  Leisler  was  promoted,  by  his 
adherents,  to  that  station.     He  sent  an  address  to  king 
William  and  queen  Mary,  whose  authority  he  acknow 
ledged,   and,   soon   after,   a  private  letter  to  the  king, 
expressing,  in  low  and  incorrect  language,  the  warmest 
protestations  of  loyalty  and  zeal. 

27.  His  sudden  elevation  excited  the  envy  of  those 
magistrates  and  citizens  who  had  declined  to  join  him  in. 
proclaiming  king  William.  Bayard  and  Courtlandt,  unable 
to  raise  a  party  against  him  in  the  city,  retired  to  Albany, 
where  their  exertions  were  successful.   To  diminish  their 
influence,  and  to  allay  the  jealousy  of  others,  he  invited 
several  worthy  citizens  to  unite  with  him  in  administering 
the  government,  a  trust  which  had  been  confided  to  him 
alone,  by  the  militia. 

28.  In  a  few  months,  however,  a  letter  arrived  from  the 
ministry  in  England,  directed  "  to  such  as,  for  the  time 
being,  take  care  for  administering  the  laws  of  the  province," 
and  conferring  authority  to  perform  all  the  duties  of  lieu 
tenant-governor.    Leisler  considered  this  letter  addressed 
to  himself,  assumed  the  authority  conferred,  appointed  his 
council,  and  issued  commissions  in  bis  own  name. 

29.  The  people  of  Albany,  k«l  by  Bayard,  Courtlr 

G 


74  NEW-YORK, 

and  Livingston,  acknowledged  king  William,  but  reiused  to 
submit  to  Leisler.  Milborne  was  sent  with  a  body  of 
troops  to  enforce  obedience,  but,  finding  them  united,  he 
returned  without  attempting  it.  The  next  spring,  going 
with  a  stronger  force,  he  succeeded.  The  leaders  of  the 
party  fled,  and  their  property  was  confiscated.  This 
arbitrary  and  unjust  measure  so  exasperated  the  sufferers, 
that  they  and  their  posterity  long  retained  the  most  violent 
animosity  against  Leisler  and  his  adherents. 

30.  During  these  troubles  in  the  colony,  war  was  de 
clared  between  France  and  England.     De,  Nonville  being 
recalled,   count   Frontenac   \vas   appointed  governor  of 
Canada.     In  January,  1690,  he  despatched  several  parties 
against  the  English  settlements.  One  of  these,  consisting 
of  Frenchmen  and  Caghnuaga  Indians,  was  sent  against 
Albany,  but  resolved   to   attack  Schenectady.      To   the 
inhabitants  of  this  village,  information  was  given  of  their 
danger  ;  but  they,  judging  it  impossible  for  the  enemy  to 
inarch  several  hundred  miles   in  the   depth  of  winter, 
disregarded  the  intelligence.   No  regular  watch  was  kept, 
nor  military  order  observed. 

31.  The  French  and  Indians  arrived  near  the  town  on 
the  eighth  of  February.     They  divided  their  number  into 
small  parties,  that  every  house  might  be  invested  at  the 
same  time.     On  Saturday  night,  at  eleven  o'clock,  they 
entered  at  the  gates  which  they  found  unshut.     The  in 
habitants  having  retired  to  rest,  universal  stillness  reigned. 
Suddenly,  in  every  quarter,  the  horrid  yell  was  heard. 
They  sprang  from  their  beds,  conscious  of  the  danger 
which  surrounded  them.     Opening  their  doors,  they  met 
the  savages,  with  uplifted  tomahawks,  on  the  threshold. 
Each,  at  the  same  instant,  heard  the  cry  of  his  affrighted 
neighbor.     Soon  succeeded  the  groans  of  the  dying.     In  a 
few  minutes,  the  buildings  were  on  fire.     W7omen  were 
butchered,  and  children  thrown  alive  into  the  flames.   The 
Indians,  frantic   from  slaughter,  ran,  with   fatal  haste, 
through  the   village,   massacreing  many,  who,  in  their 
attempts  to  escape,  were  betrayed  by  the  light  of  thbir 
own  houses. 

32.  Some  eluded  their  pursuers ;  but  a  fate  almost  as 
dreadful  awaited  them.     They  were  naked;  a  furious 
storm  came  on ;  Albany,  their  only  refuge,  was  at  a  dis 
tance  ;  and  often  their  terror  converted  into  savages  the 
trees  and  wild  .beasts  which  they  saw  in  their  flight.  Part 


NEW- YORK.  75 

arrived  in  safety ;  twenty-five  lost  their  limbs  by  the 
severity  of  the  cold.  At  Schenectady,  sixty  were  killed, 
arid  twenty-five  made  prisoners. 

33.  To  avenge  these  barbarities,  and  others  perpetrated 
in  New-England,  a  combined  expedition  against  Canada 
was  projected.     An  army,  raised  in  New- York  and  Con 
necticut,  proceeded  as  far  as  the  head  of  lake  Champlain, 
whence,  finding  no  boats  prepared,  they  were  obliged  to 
return.     Sir  William  Phipps,  with  a  fleet  of  more  than 
thirty  vessels,  sailed  from  Boston  into  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and,  landing  a  body  of  troops,  made  an  attack  by  land  and 
water  upon  Quebec  ;  but  the  return  of  the  army  to  New- 
York,  allowing  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  to  repair  to 
t  he  assistance  of  the  garrison,  he  was  obliged  to  abandon 
the  enterprise.      To   the  misconduct   or   incapacity  of 
Leisler  and  Milborne,  the  failure  of  this  expedition  was 
attributed. 

34.  As  soon  as  king  William  could  find  leisure  to  attend 
to  his   colonies,  he  appointed  colonel   Henry  Sloughter 
governor  of  New- York.     Never   was  a  governor  more 
necessary  to  the  province,  and  never,  perhaps,  has  it  been 
.ruled  by  one  less  qualified  for  the  station.     He  was  desti 
tute  of  talents,  licencious,  avaricious  and  a  bankrupt. 

35.  Leisler,  when  informed  of  this  appointment,  ought 
to  have  relinquished  the  authority  he  had  exercised ;  but 
he  was  weak,  intoxicated  with  power,  and  determined  to 
retain  it.     Although  twice  required,  he  refused  to  surren 
der  the  fort;  but  sent  two  persons  to  confer  with  the 
governor,  who,  declaring  them  rebels,  arrested  and  con 
fined  them.     Alarmed  by  this  measure,  Leisler  attempted 
to  escape,  but  was  apprehended,  with  many  of  his  adhe 
rents,  and  brought  to  trial. 

36.  In  vain  did  they  plead  their  zeal  for  king  William. 
In  vain  did  Leisler  insist  that  the  letter  from  England 
authorized  him  to  administer  the  government.     They  had 
lately  resisted  a  governor  with  a  regular  commission,  and 
this  governor,  and  a  subservient  court,  were  resolved  upon 
their  conviction.     Leisler  and  Milborne  were  condemned 
to  death  for  hisrh  treason. 

37.  Soon  after  their  trial,  the  affairs  of  the  province 
required  Sloughter's  presence  at  Albany.      The  faction 
opposed  to  them,  entreated  him,  before  his  departure,  to 
sign  the  warrant  for  their  execution ;  but  he,  unwilling 
to  sacrifice  two  men,  who,  though  they  had  sometimes 
erred,  had  served  his  master  with  zeal,  refused,     Unable 


"Tit  NEW- YORK. 

to  effect  their  purpose  by  persuasion,  they  resorted  to  a 
detestable  expedient.  A  sumptuous  feast  was  prepared, 
to  which  the  governor  was  invited.  When  he  had  drunk 
to  intoxication,  they  presented  him  the  warrant,  which  he 
signed,  and  when  he  had  recovered  his  senses,  the  priso 
ners  were  no  more. 

38.  On  application  to  the  king,  their  estates,  which  had 
been  confiscated,   were  restored  to  their  heirs.     Their 
bodies  were  afterwards  taken  up  and  interred,  with  great 
pomp,  in  the  old  Dutch  church ;  and  their  descendants  are 
considered  honored,  rather  than  disgraced,  by  the  conduct 
•and  fall  of  their  ancestors. 

39.  In  July,   1691,    Sloughter,  having  returned   from 
Albany,  ended,  by  a  sudden  death,  a   short,  weak,  and 
turbulent  administration.     About  the  same  time,  major 
Peter  Schuyler,  at  the  head  of  three  hundred  Mohawks, 
made  a  sudden  and  bold  attack  upon  the  French  settle 
ments,  at  the  north  end  of  Lake  Champlain.     An  army  of 
eight   hundred  men  was  despatched  from   Montreal  to 
oppose  him.     With  these  he  had  several  irregular,  but 
successful  conflicts ;  in  which  he  killed  a  number  of  the 
enemy,  greater  than  that  of  his  whole  party. 

40.  In  1692,  colonel  Fletcher  arrived  as  successor  to 
Sloughter.  He  was  a  good  soldier,  was  active,  avaricious, 
and   passionate.     From  the   talents  and  information  of 
mnjor  Schuyler,  he  derived   great  assistance,  and  was 
governed  by  his  advice,  particularly  in  transactions  rela 
tive  to  the  Indians. 

41.  As  a  great  portion  of  the  inhabitants  were  Dutch, 
all  the  governors,  to  produce  uniformity  in  religion  and 
language,  had  encouraged  English  preachers  and  school 
masters  to  settle  in  the  colony.      No  one  pursued  this 
object  with  more  zeal  than  Fletcher,  who  wras  devoted  to 
the  church  of  England.     At  two  successive  sessions,  he 
recommended  the  subject  to  the  attention  of  the  assembly; 
but  the  members,  being  generally  attached  to  the  church 
of  Holland,  disregarded  his  recommendations.     For  this 
neglect,  he  gave  them  a  severe  reprimand. 

42.  The  subject  being  laid  before  them,  at  a  subsequent 
session,  they  passed  a  bill  providing  for  the  settlement,  in 
certain  parishes,  of  ministers  of  the  gospel,  to  be  chosen 
by  the  people.     The  council  added  an  amendment,  giving 
to  the  governor  the  power  of  approval  or  rejection.     The 
house  refused  to  concur  in  the   amendment,  at  which 
Fletcher  was  so  much  enraged,  that  he  commanded  them 


NEW-YORK.  77 

instantly  to  attend  him,  and,  addressing  them  in  an  angry 
speech,  prorogued  them  to  the  next  year. 

43.  In  1697,  a  peace,  which  gave  security  and  repose  to 
the  colonies,  was  concluded  between  Great  Britain  and 
France.     The  next  year,  the  earl  of  Bellamont  wras  ap 
pointed  governor.     He  was  particularly  instructed  to  clear 
the  American  seas  of  the  pirates  who  infested  them,  and 
who,  it  was  suspected,  had  .even  received  encouragement 
from  Fletcher. 

44.  The  government  declining  to  furnish  the  necessary 
naval  force,  the  earl  engaged,  with  others,  in  a  private 
undertaking  against  them.     The  associates,  procuring  a 
vessel  of  war,  gave  the  command  of  it  to  a  captain  Kid, 
and  sent  him  to  cruise  against  the  pirates.     He  had  been 
but  a  short  time  at  sea,  when,  disregarding  his  instructions, 
lie  made  a  new  contract  with  his  crew,  and,  on  the  Atlantic 
and  Indian  Oceans,  became  himself  a  daring,  atrocious, 
and  successful  pirate. 

4.3.  Three  years  afterwards,  he  returned,  burned  his 
ship,  and,  with  a  strange  infatuation,  appeared  publicly  at 
Boston.  lie  was  apprehended  and  sent  to  England,  wrhere 
he  was  tried  and  executed.  The  earl  and  his  partners, 
some  of  .whom  resided  in  England,  were  accused  of 
sharing  in  his  plunder,  but  in  all  his  examinations  he 
declared  them  innocent. 

40.  Notwithstanding  the  death  of  Leisler,  the  people 
were  still  divided  into  Leislerians  and  anti-Leislerians. 
Fletcher  had  been  the  instrument  of  the  latter ;  Lord 
Bellamont  espoused  the  cause  of  the  former.  lie,  how 
ever,  persecuted  no  one ;  but  exercised  authority  with 
justice  and  moderation.  He  died  in  1701. 

47.  The    next   year,    lord    Cornbury    was    appointed 
governor-,     He  presented  a  striking  proof  of  the  folly  of 
hereditary  distinctions.   He  was  the  son  of  the  celebrated 
earl  of  Clarendon ;  but  possessed  not  one  of  the  virtues 
of  his  ancestor.     Mean,  profligate,  and  unprincipled,  lie 
was  a  burden  to  his  friends  at  home,  and  was  sent  to 
America  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  his  creditors. 

48.  He  declared  himself  an  anti-Leislerian,  and  the  first 
assembly  that  he  summoned  was  composed  principally  of 
men  of  that  party.     They  presented  him  two  thousand 
pounds  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his  voyage.    They  raised 
several  sums  of  money  for  public  purposes,  but  the   ex*- 
penditure  being  intrusted  to  him  as  governor,  he  appro**. 
P  dated  most  of  it  to  his  own  use. 

6  2 


NEW-YORK 

49.  His  acts  of  injustice  and  oppression ;  his  prodigality* 
his  indecent  and  vulgar  manners,  rendered  him  universally 
odious.     In  1708,  the  assemblies  of  New- York  and  of 
New-Jersey,  of  which  colony  he  was  also  governor,  com 
plained  to  the  queen  of  his  misconduct.  She  removed  him 
irom  office ;  he  was  soon  after  arrested  by  his  creditors, 
and  remained  in  custody  until  the  death  of  his  illustrious 
father,  when  he  returned  to  England  and  took  his  seat  in 
the  house  of  lords. 

50.  A  proceeding  of  the  house  of  representatives,  near 
the  close  of  his  administration,  ought  not  to  be  passed 
over  without  notice.     Wearied  by  their  sufferings,  they 
appointed  a  committee  of  grievances,  who  reported  a  series 
of  resolutions  having  reference  to  recent  transactions, 
which  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  house.     One  of 
them,  in  explicit  language,  asserted  the  principle,  "  that 
the  imposing  and  levying  of  any  moneys  upon  her  majesty's 
subjects  of  this  colony,   under   any  pretence  or  colour 
whatsoever,  without  consent  in  general  assembly,  is  a 
grievance  and  a  violation  of  the  people's  property."    It  is 
not  uninstructive  to  observe  how  early,  in  some  of  the 
colonies,  were  sown  the  seeds  of  the  American  revolution. 

51.  In  1710,  general  Hunter,  who  had  been  appointed 
governor,  arrived  in  the  province.     He  brought  with  him 
near  three  thousand  Germans,  some  of  whom  settled  in 
New-York,  and  some  in  Pennsylvania.    The  latter  trans 
mitted  to  their  native  land  such  favourable  accounts  of 
the  country  which  they  had  chosen  for  their  residence, 
that  many  others  followed  and  settled  in   that  colony. 
The  numerous  descendants  of  these  Germans  are  honest, 
industrious,  arid  useful  citizens. 

52.  The  prodigality  of  lord  Cornbury,  had  taught  the 
assembly  an  important  lesson.     Before  his  removal,  they 
had  obtained  from  the  queen  permission,  in  cases  of  special 
appropriations  to  appoint  their  own  treasurer.     They  now 
passed  a  bill  confiding  to  this  officer  the  disbursement  of 
certain  sums  appropriated  for   ordinary  purposes.     The 
council  proposed  an  amendment.     The  house  denied  the 
right  of  that  body  to  amend  a  money  bill.  Both  continuing 
obstinate,  the  governor  prorogued  them,  and  at  their  next 
session  dissolved  them. 

53.  At  this  time,  war  existed  between  England  and 
France.     In  1709,  expensive  preparations  were  made  for 
an  attack  upon  Canada,  but  the  promised  assistance  not 
arriving  from  England,  the  enterprise  wa$  abandoned.    Tr\ 


NEW-YORK.  7S 

1711,  tlie  project  was  resumed.  A  fleet  sailed  up  the 
St.  Lawrence,  to  attack  Quebec;  and  an  army  of  four 
thousand  men,  raised  by  New- York,  New-Jersey,  an(| 
Connecticut,  marched  to  invade  Canada,  by  the  route  of 
Lake  Champlain.  The  fleet,  shattered  by  a  storm,  was 
compelled  to  return.  The  army,  informed  of  the  disasters 
of  the  fleet,  returned  also,  having  accomplished  nothing. 

54.  The  people,  approving  the  conduct  of  their  repre 
sentatives  in  relation  to  the  revenue,    had  re-elected 
nearly  all  of  them,  and  they  were  now  in  session.     To 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  late  expedition,  they  passed 
several  bills  which  were  amended  in  the  council.     Be 
tween  these  two  bodies,  another  contest  ensued.     The 
representatives,  deriving  their  authority  from  the  people, 
considered  themselves  bound  to  watch  over  the  expendi 
ture  of  their  money.  The  council,  deriving  their  authority 
from  the  same  source  as  the  governor,  were  desirous  of 
increasing  his  influence  by  giving  him  the  management  of 
the  revenue.     During  this,  and  a  subsequent  session,  both 
continued  inflexible.      The  governor,  provoked  at  the 
obstinacy  of  the  representatives,  dissolved  the  assembly. 

55.  At  the  ensuing  election,  which  was  warmly  con 
tested,  most  of  the  members  chosen,  were  opposed  to  the 
governor.     This  assembly  was  dissolved  by  the  death  of 
the  queen.   The  next  was  dissolved  by  the  governor,  soon 
after  it  first  met,  a  majority  of  the  representatives  being 
known  to  be  unfriendly  to  his  views.     The  people  became 
weary  of  contending.   Most  of  the  members  chosen  at  the 
succeeding  election,  were  his  friends  and  partisans,  and, 
for  several  years,  the  utmost  harmony  existed  between 
the  different  branches  of  the  government. 

56.  Governor  Hunter  quitted  the  province  in  1719,  and 
his   authority  devolved  on  Peter  Schuyler,  the  oldest 
member  of  the  council.     The  next  year,  William  Burner,, 
son  of  the  celebrated  bishop  of  that  name,  was  appointed 
governor.     Turning  his  attention  towards  the  wilderness, 
he  perceived  that  the  French,  in  order  to  connect  their 
settlements  in  Canada  and  Louisiana,  to  secure  to  them 
selves  the  Indian  trade,  and  to  confine  the  English  to  the 
sea  coast,  wrere  busily  employed  in  erecting  a  chain  of 
forts  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Mississippi. 

57.  He^endeavored  to  defeat  their  design,  by  building  a 
trading  house,  and  afterwards  a  fort,  at  Oswego,  on  Lake 
Ontario.     But  the  French  had  the  command  of  more 
Abundant  resources,  and  applied  them  to  the  accomplish- 


60  M-W-YORK. 

ment  of  tlieir  object,  with  great  activity  and  zeal.  Thry 
launched  two  vessels  upon  that  lake  ;  and,  going  farther 
into  the  wilderness,  erected  a  fort  at  Niagra,  commanding 
the  entrance  into  it;  they  had  previously  erected  fort 
Frontenac,  commanding  the  outlet. 

58.  The  assembly,  elected  in  1716,  had  been  so  obse 
quious  to  the  governor,  that  he  continued  it  in  existence 
until  the  clamors  of  the  people  induced  him,  in  1727,  to 
dissolve  it.    That  which  next  met,  was  composed  entirely 
of  his  opponents.     The  court  of  chancery,  in  which  he 
presided,  had  become  exceedingly  unpopular.    It  had  been 
instituted  by  an  ordinance  of  the  governor  and  council, 
without  the  concurrence  of  the  assembly ;  the  mode  of 
proceeding  was  novel;    and  some  of  the  decisions  had 
Driven  great  offence  to  powerful  individuals.     The  house 
passed   resolutions  declaring  it  "  a  manifest   oppression 
:md  grievance,"  and  intimating  that  its  decrees  were  void. 
The  governor  instantly  called  the  assembly  before  him, 
mil  dissolved  it. 

59.  Being  soon  after  appointed  governor  of  Massachu 
setts,  he  was  succeeded  by  colonel   Montgomery,  upon 
whose  death,  in  1731,  the  supreme  authority  devolved 
upon  Rip  Van  Dam,  the  senior  member  of  the  council. 
V ruler  his  short  and  inefficient  administration,  the  French 
were  permitted  to  erect  a  fort  at  Crown  Point,  within  the 
acknowledged  boundaries  of  New- York,  from  which  par- 
ties  of  savages  were  often  secretly  despatched  to  destroy 
the  English  settlements. 

f'O.  Van  Darn  was  superseded  by  William  Cosby,  who 
arrived  in  August,  1732.  Having  been  the  advocate,  in 
parliament,  of  the  American  colonies,  he  was  at  first 
popular,  but  soon  lost  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the 
people.  By  his  instigation,  one  Zenger,  the  printer  of  a 
newspaper,  was  prosecuted  for  publishing  an  article  de 
clared  to  be  derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  his  majesty's 
government.  He  was  zealously  defended  by  able  counsel, 
and  an  independent  jury  gave  a  verdict  of  acquital.  The 
people  applauded  their  conduct,  and  the  magistrates  of  the 
oity  of  New- York  presented  to  Andrew  Hamilton,  one  of 
his  defenders,  the  freedom  of  the  city,  in  a  gold  b^,  and 
their  thanks  for  "  his  learned  and  generous  defence  of  the 
rights  of  mankind,  and  the  liberty  of  the  press.'" 

61.  Governor  Cosby  died  in  1736,  and  was  succeeded 
by  George  Clark,  at  that  time  senior  counsellor,  but  soon 
after  appointed  lieutenant-governor*  Again  wns  revived 


NEW-YORK.  81 

the  contest  which  had  ended,  twenty  years  before,  in  the 
victory  gained  by  governor  Hunter,  over  the  house  of 
representatives.  The  colony  being  in  debt,  the  house 
voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  six  thousand  pounds ;  but,  in 
order  to  prevent  its  misapplication,  declared,  that  it 
should  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  certain  specified 
debts.  Offended  by  this  vote,  Clark  resorted  to  the  ex 
pedient  which  had  usuully  been  adopted  to  punish  or 
intimidate  ;  he  immediately  dissolved  the  assembly. 

62.  At  the  next  election,  great  exertions  were  made 
by  the  opposing  parties.     The  popular  party  was  trium 
phant.     At   their   second  session,  the  house  voted  an 
address  to  the  lieutenant-governor,  which  is  worthy  of 
particular  notice.     In  bold  and   explicit  language,  they 
state  some  of  the  vital  principles  of  free  government, 
refer  to  recent  misapplications  of  money,  and  proceed : 

63.  "  We  therefore  beg  leave  to  be  plain  with  your 
honor,  and  hope  you  will  not  take  it  amiss  when  we  tell 
you,  that  you  are  not  to  expect  that  we  will  either  raise 
sums  unfit  to  be  raised,  or  put  what  we  shall  raise,  into 
the  power  of  a  governor  to  misapply,  if  we  can  prevent 
it ;  nor  shall  we  make  up  any  other  deficiencies  than 
what  we  conceive  are  fit  and  just  to  be  paid ;  nor  con 
tinue  what  support  or  revenue  we  shall  raise,  for  any 
longer  time  than  one  year ;  nor  do  we  think  it  convenient 
to  do  even  that,  until  such  laws  are  passed  as  we  conceive 
necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  colony, 
who  have  reposed  a  trust  in  us  for  that  only  purpose,  and 
which  we  are  sure  you  will  think  it  reasonable  we  should 
act  agreeably  to ;  and   by  the  grace   of  God  we  shall 
endeavor  not  to  deceive  them." 

64.  With  a  body  of  men,  so  resolute  in  asserting  their 
rights,  the  lieutenant-governor  Wisely  forebore  to  contend. 
He  thanked  them  for  their  address,  and  promised  his 
cordial  co-operation  in  all  measures  calculated  to  promote 
the  prosperity  of  the  colony.    He  gave  his  assent  to  a 
law  providing  for  the  more  frequent  election  of  represen 
tatives  ;  which  law,  however,  two  years  afterwards,  was 
abrogated  by  the  king. 

65.  But  between  a  house  of  representatives  and  a  chief 
magistrate,  deriving  their  authority  from  different  sources, 
harmony  could  not  long  subsist.    Mr.  Clark,  in  his  speech 
at  the  opening  of  the  next  session,  declared  that  unless 
the  revenue  was  granted  for  as  long  a  time  as  it  had  been 
granted  by  former  assemblies,  his  duty  to  his  majesty 


&J  NEW-YORK. 

forbade  him  from  assenting  to  any  act  for  continuing  the 
excise,  or  for  paying  the  colonial  hills  of  credit.  The 
house  unanimously  resolved,  that  it  would  not  pass  any  bill 
for  the  grant  of  money,  unless  assurance  should  be  given 
that  the  excise  should  be  continued  and  the  bills  of  credit 
redeemed. 

66.  The  lieutenant-governor  immediately  ordered  the 
members  to  attend  him.     He  told  them  that  "  their  pro 
ceedings  were  presumptuous,  daring,  and  unprecedented ; 
that  he  could  not  look  upon  them  without  astonishment, 
nor  with  honor  suffer  the  house  to  sit  any  longer ;"  and  he 
accordingly  dissolved  it.     Little  more  than  a  year  had 
elapsed,  since  the  members  were  chosen ;  but  in  that  time 
they  had,  by  their  firm  and  spirited  conduct,  in  support  of 
the  rights  of  the  people,  merited  the  gratitude  of  their 
constituents. 

67.  About  this  time,  a  supposed  "negro  plot"  occasioned 
great  commotion  and  alarm  in  the  city  of  New- York. 
The  frequent  occurrence  of  fires,  most  of  which  were 
evidently  caused  by  design,  first  excited  the  jealousy  and 
suspicion  of  the  citizens.      Terrified  by  danger  which 
lurked  unseen  in  the  midst  of  them,  they  listened  with 
eager  credulity  to  the   declaration  of  some   abandoned 
females,  that  the  negroes  had  combined  to  burn  the  city 
and  make  one  of  their  number  governor.     Many  were 
arrested  and  committed  to  prison.     Other  witnesses,  not 
more  respectable  than  the  first,  came  forward ;   other 
negroes  were  accused,  and  even  several  white  men  were 
designated  as  concerned  in  the  plot. 

68.  When  the  time  of  trial  arrived,  so  strong  was  the 
prejudice  against  the  miserable  negroes,  that  every  lawyer 
in  the   city  volunteered   against   them.      Ignorant   and 
unassisted,  nearly  all  who  were  tried  were  condemned. 
Fourteen  were  sentenced  to  be  burned,  eighteen  to  be  hung, 
seventy-one  to  be  transported,  and  all  these  sentences 
were  executed.     Of  the  whites  two  were  convicted  and 
suffered  death. 

69.  All  apprehension  of  danger  having  subsided,  many 
began  to  doubt  whether  any  plot  had  in  fact  been  concerted. 
None  of  the  witnesses  were  persons  of  credit,  their  stories 
were  extravagant  and  often  contradictory ;  and  the  project 
was  such  as  none  but  fools  or  madmen  would  form.    The 
two  white  men  were  respectable ;  one  had  received  a 
liberal  education,  but  he  was  a  Catholic,  and  the  prejudice 
3 gainst  Catholics  was  too  violent  to  permit  the  free  oxer- 


NEW-YORK.  83 

else  of  reason.  Some  of  the  accused  were  doubtless  guilty 
of  setting  fire  to  the  city ;  but  the  proof  of  the  alleged  plot 
was  not  sufficiently  clear  to  justify  the  numerous  and  cruel 
punishments  that  were  inflicted. 

70.  In  April,  1740,  the  assembly  again  met.     It  had 
now  risen  to  importance  in  the  colony.     The  adherence  of 
the  representatives  to  their  determination,  not  to  grant  the 
revenue  for  more  than  one  year,  made  annual  meetings 
of  the  assembly  necessary.     This  attachment  to  liberty 
was  mistaken  for  the  desire  of  independence.    Lieutenant- 
governor  Clark,  in  a  speech  delivered  in  1741,  alludes  to 
"  a  jealousy  which  for  some  years  had  obtained  in  Eng 
land,  that  the  plantations  were  not  without  thoughts  of 
throwing  off  their  dependence  on  the  crown." 

71.  In  1743,  George  Clinton  was  sent  over  as  governor 
of  the  colony.     Like  most  of  his  predecessors  he  was 
welcomed  with  joy;   and  one  of  his  earliest  measures 
confirmed  the  favorable  accounts,  which  had  preceded 
him,  of  his  talents  and  liberality.     To  show  his  willingness 
to  repose  confidence  in  the  people,  he  assented  to  a  bill 
limiting  the  duration  of  the  present  and  all  succeeding 
assemblies.      The    house   manifested    its    gratitude   by 
adopting  the  measures  he  recommended  for  the  defence 
of  the  province  against  the  French,  who  were  then  at  war 
with  England. 

72.  In  1745,  the  savages  in  alliance  with  France  made 
frequent  invasions  of  the  English  territories.     The  inhab 
itants  were  compelled  to  desert  Hosick ;  Saratoga  was 
destroyed;  the  western  settlements  in  New-England  were 
often  attacked  and  plundered.     Encouraged  by  success, 
the  enemy  became  more  daring,  and  small  parties  ventured 
\vitliin  the  suburbs  of  Albany,  and  there  lay  in  wait  for 
prisoners.     It  is  even  said  that  one  Indian,  called  Tomon- 
wilemon,  often  entered  the  city  and  succeeded  in  taking 
captives. 

73.  Distressed  by  these  incursions,  the  assembly,  in 
1746,  determined  to  unite  with  the  other  colonies  and  the 
mother  country  in  an  expedition  against  Canada.     They 
appropriated  money  to  purchase  provisions  for  the  army, 
and  offered  liberal  bounties  to  recruits.    But  the  fleet  from 
England  did  not  arrive  at  the  appointed  time  :  the  other 
colonies  were  dilatory  in  their  preparations,  and  before 
they  were  completed,  the  season  for  military  operations 
had  passed  away. 

74.  Early  in  the  next  year,  a  treaty  was  concluded*  and 


84  NEW-JERSEY. 

the  inhabitants  were,  for  a  short  period,  relieved  from  th« 
burdens  and  distresses  of  war.  During  the  interval  of 
peace,  no  event  of  importance  happened  in  the  colony. 
Upon  the  recurrence,  a  few  years  afterwards,  of  hostilities, 
its  territory  was  the  theatre  of'sanguinary  conflicts.  But 
of  that  war,  in  which  all  the  colonies  acted  in  concert,  a 
connected  history  will  be  hereafter  given. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
NEW-JERSEY. 

THE  first  settlement  within  the  limits  of  New-Jersey 
was  made  by  the  Danes,  about  the  year  1624,  at  a  place 
called  Bergen,  from  a  city  of  that  name  in  Norway.  Soon 
afterwards,  several  Dutch  families  seated  themselves  in 
the  vicinity  of  New- York.  In  1626,  a  company  was 
formed  in  Sweden,  under  the  patronage  of  king  Gustavus 
Adolphus,  for  the  purpose  of  planting  a  colony  in  America. 
The  next  year,  a  number  of  Swedes  and  Finns  came  over, 
purchased  of  the  natives  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
Delaware,  but  made  their  first  settlement  on  its  western 
bank,  near  Christina  creek. 

2.  About  the  year  1640,  the  English  began  a  plantation 
at  Elsingburgh,  on  its  eastern  bank.      The  Swedes,  in 
concert  with  the  Dutch  who  then  possessed  New- York, 
drove  them  out  of  the  country.     The  former  built  a  fort 
on  the  spot  whence  the  English  had  been  driven;  and, 
gaining  thus  the  command  of  the  river,  claimed  and  exer 
cised  authority  over  all  vessels  that  entered  it,  even  those 
of  the  Dutch,  their  late  associates. 

3.  They  continued  in  possession  of  the  country,  on  both 
sides  of  the  Delaware,  until  1655,  when  Peter  Stuyvesant, 
governor  of  the  New-Netherlands,  having  obtained  assist- 
mce  from  Holland,  C9nquered  all  their  posts  and  trans 
ported  most  of  the  Swedes  to  Europe.    The  Dutch  were 
now  in  possession  of  the  territory  comprising,  at  this  time, 
the  states  of  New-Jersey,  New- York,  and  Delaware. 

4.  Soon,  however,  this  territory  changed  masters.    King 
Charles  II,  having  granted  it  to  the  duke  of  York,  sent  an 
armament,  in  1664,  to  wrest  it  from  the  Dutch.     After 
reducing  New- York,  the  squadron  proceeded  to  the  settle 
ments  eu  the  Delaware,  which  immediately  submitted. 


NEW-JERSEY. 

In  the  same  year,  the  duke  conveyed  that  portion  of  his 
grant,  lying  between  Hudson  and  Delaware  rivers,  to  lord 
Berkeley  and  Sir  George  Carteret.  This  tract  was  called 
New-Jersey,  in  compliment  to  Sir  George,  who  had  been 
governor  of  the  island  of  Jersey,  and  had  held  it  for  king 
Charles  in  his  contest  with  the  parliament. 

5.  The  two  proprietors  formed  a  constitution  for  the 
colony,  securing  equal  privileges  and  liberty  of  conscience 
to  all,  and  appointed  Philip  Carteret  governor.     He  came 
over  in  1665,  fixed  the  seat  of  government  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  purchased  land  of  the  Indians,  and  sent  agents  into 
New-England  to  invite  settlers  from  that  quarter.     The 
terms  offered  were  so  favorable  that  many  accepted  the 
invitation. 

6.  A  few  years  afterwards,  the  repose  of  the  colony  began 
to  be  disturbed  by  domestic  disputes.     Some  of  the  inhabit 
ants,  having  purchased  their  lands  of  the  Indians  previous 
to  the  conveyance  from  the  duke,  refused  to  pay  rent  to 
the  proprietors.     Others  were  discontented  from  different 
causes.     In  1672,  an  insurrection  took  place,  the  people 
assumed  the  government,  and  chose  James  Carteret,  the 
son  of  Philip,  their  governor.     The  father  returned  to 
England,  and  obtained  from  the  proprietors  such  favorable 
concessions   and   promises   as   quieted   the    people,  and 
induced  them  again  to  submit  to  his  authority. 

7.  Lord  Berkeley  disposed  of  his  property,  rights,  and 
privileges  in  the  territory,  to  Edward  Billinge ;  and  he, 
being  involved  in  debt,  consented  that  they  should  be  sold 
fur  the  benefit  of  his  creditors.     WILLIAM  PENN,  Gawen 
Lowrie,  and  Nicholas  Lucas,  were  appointed  trustees  for 
that  purpose.     In  1676,  the  trustees  and  Sir  George  Car 
teret  made  partition  of  the  territory,  they  taking  the  western 
and  he  the  eastern  portion. 

8.  West-Jersey  was  then  divided  into  one  hundred 
shares,  which  were  separately  sold.     Some  of  the  pur 
chasers  emigrated  to  the  country,  and  all  made  great 
exertions   to   promote   its  population.      Possessing  the 
powers  of  government,  as  well  as  the  right  of  soil,  they 
formed  a  constitution,  in  which,  for  the  encouragement  of 
emigrants,  they  secured  to  them  ample  privileges. 

9.  But  previous  to  the  transfer  from  Berkeley  to  Billinge, 
the  Dutch,  being  at  war  with  England,  reconquered  the 
country,  and  retained  it,  until  1674,  when  it  was  restored 
by  treaty.     A  new  patent  was  then  granted  to  the  duke, 
including  the  same  territorv  as  the  former.    In  1678,  Sir 

H 


SO  .NEW- JERSEY. 

Edmund  Andross,  whohad  been  appointed  his  sole  governor 
in  America,  claimed  jurisdiction  over  the  Jerseys,  insisting 
that  the  conquest  by  the  Dutch  divested  the  proprietors 
of  all  their  rights. 

10.  He  forcibly  seized,  transported  to  New- York,  and 
there  imprisoned  those  magistrates  who  refused  to  acknow 
ledge  his  authority.     He  imposed  a  duty  upon  all  goods 
imported,  and  upon  the  property  of  all  who  came  to  settle 
in  the  country.     Of  this  injustice  the  inhabitants  loudly 
complained  to  the  duke;  and  at  length  their  repeated 
remonstrances  constrained  him  to  refer  the  matter  to 
commissioners. 

11.  Before  them  the  proprietors  appeared.     In  strong 
language  they  asserted,  and  by  strong  arguments  supported, 
their  claim  to  the  privileges  of  freemen.    They  represented, 
that  the  king  had  granted  to  the  duke  the  right  of  govern 
ment  as  well  as  the  right  of  soil ;     That  the  duke  had 
transferred  the  same  rights  to  Berkeley  and  Carteret,  and 
they  to  the  present  proprietors. 

12.  "That  only,"  they  added,  "could  have  induced  us 
to  purchase  lands  and  emigrate.     And  the  reason  is  plain ; 
to  all  prudent  men,  the  government  of  any  place  is  more 
inviting  than  the  soil ;  for  what  is  good  land  without  good 
laws  ?  What  but  an  assurance  that  we  should  enjoy  civil 
and  religious  privileges,  could  have  tempted  us  to  leave  a 
cultivated  country,  and   resort  to  a  gloomy  wilderness  ? 
What  have  we  gained,  if,  after  adventuring  in  this  wilder 
ness  many  thousands  of  pounds,  we  are  yet  to  be  taxed  at 
the  mere  will  and  pleasure  of  another?    What  is  it  but  to 
say,  that  people,  free  by  law  under  their  prince  at  home, 
are  at  his  mercy  in  his  plantations  abroad  ? 

13.  "We  humbly  say,  that  we  have  lost  none  of  our 
liberty  by  leaving  our  country ;  that  the  duty  imposed  upon 
us  is  without  precedent  or  parallel ;  that,  had  we  foreseen 
it,  we  should  have  preferred  any  other  plantation  in  Ame 
rica.     Besides,  there  is  no  limit  to  this  power ;  since  we 
are,  by  this  precedent,  taxed  without  any  law,  and  thereby 
excluded  from  our  English  right  of  assenting  to  tax's ; 
what  security  have  we  of  any  thing  we  possess  1  We  can 
call  nothing  our  own,  but  are  tenants  at  will,  not  only  for 
the  soil,  but  for  our  personal  estates.     Such  conduct  has 
destroyed  governments,  but  never  raised  one  to  any  true 
greatness." 

14.  The  commissioners  adjudged  the  duties  illegal  and 
oppressive,    and   they  were  not   afterwards   demanded* 


DELAWARE.  87 

Emigrants  continued  to  arrive  and  the  country  to  prosper. 
In  1681,  the  governor  of  West- Jersey  summoned  a  gen 
eral  assembly,  by  which  several  fundamental  laws  were 
enacted,  establishing  the  rights  of  the  people,  and  defining 
the  powers  of  rulers. 

15.  In  1682,  the  territory  of  East-Jersey  passed  from 
Carteret  to  William  Penn,  and  twenty-three  associates, 
mostly  of  the  Quaker  persuasion.   They  appointed  Robert 
Barclay,  author  of  the  "Apology  for  the  Quakers,"  gover 
nor  over  it  for  life.  The  multitude  of  proprietors,  and  the 
frequent  transfers  and  subdivisions  of  shares,  introduced 
such  confusion  in  titles  to  land,  and  such  uncertainty  as  to 
the  rights  of  government,  that,  for  twenty  years  afterwards, 
both  Jerseys  were  in  a  state  of  continued  disturbance  and 
disorder.     In  1702,  the  proprietors,  weary  of  contending 
with  each  other,  and  with  the  people,  surrendered  the 
right  of  government  to  the  crown.     Queen  Anne  reu 
nited  the  two  divisions,  and  appointed  lord  Cornbury 
governor  over  the  provinces  of  New- Jersey  and  New- York. 

16.  These  provinces  continued,  for  several  years,  to  be 
ruled  by  the  same  governor,  but  each  chose  a  separate 
assembly.     In   1738,  the  inhabitants,  by  petition  to  thu 
king,  desired  that  they  might,  in  future,   have  a  separate 
governor.    Their  request  was  granted,  Lewis  Morris  being 
the  first  that  was  appointed. 

17.  In  the  same  year,  a  college  was  founded  at  Prince 
ton  and  called  Nassau  Hall.     New-Jersey  then  contained 
above  forty  thousand  inhabitants.     Being    remote   from 
Canada,  the  source  of  most  of  the  Indian  wars  which 
afflicted  the  northern    colonies,  it  enjoyed  a    complete 
exemption  from  that  terrible  calamity,  and  until  the  com 
mencement  ef  the  revolution,  furnished  no  materials  for 
luster  v. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
DELAWARE. 

THIS  colony  was  first  settled  by  a  company  of  Swedes 
and  Finns,  under  the  patronage  of  king  Gustavus  Adolphus. 
They  came  over  in  1627,  and  landing  at  cape  Henlopen, 
were  so  charmed  with  its  appearance,  that  they  gave  it, 
of  Paradise  Point.  The  country  they  called 


DELAWARE. 

New-Sweden,  and  the  river  Delaware,  New-Swedeland 
Stream.  They  purchased  of  the  Indians  the  lands  on  both 
sides  of  that  river,  from  the  sea  to  the  falls,  and  seated 
themselves  at  the  mouth  of  Christina  creek,  near  Wil 
mington. 

2.  Being  frequently  molested  by  the  Dutch,  who  claimed 
a  right  to  the  country,  they,  for  their  protection,  built  forts 
at  Christina,  Lewistown,  and  Tinicum.    The  last  was 
their  seat  of  government,  and  there  John  Printz,  their 
governor,  erected  an  elegant   mansion  which  he  named 
Printz  Hall. 

3.  In   1651,  the   Dutch    built    a  fort  at  New-Castle. 
Printz,  considering  this  place  to  be  within  the  Swedisli 
territories,   formally   protested    against  the   proceeding. 
Risingh,  his  successor,  made  a  visit,  under  the   guise  of 
friendship,  to  the  commander  of  the  fort,   and,  being  ac 
companied  by  thirty  men,  treacherously  took  possession  of 
it,  while  enjoying  his  hospitality. 

4.  Peter  Stuyvesant,  the  Dutch  governor  of  New- York, 
was  not  of  a  temper  to  permit  an  injury  thus  committed,  to 
pass  unavenged.     Accompanied  by  an  armament,  a  part  of 
which  was  furnished  for  the  occasion  by  the  city  Of  Am 
sterdam,  in  Holland,  he,  in  1655,  returned  the  visit  of  the 
Swedes.     He  first  reduced  the  fort  at  New-Castle ;  then 
that  at  Christina  creek,  where  Risingh  commanded ;  and 
afterwards  the  others.     Some  of  the  Swedes,  on  taking 
the   oath  of  allegiance  to   Holland,  were  permitted  to 
remain ;  the  rest  were  sent  to  Europe. 

5.  The  settlements  on  the  Delaware  continued  under  the 
fontrol  of  the  Dutch,  until  1664,  when  the  New-Nether 
lands  were  conquered  by  the  English.     They  were  then 
considered  as  a  part  of  New- York.     In   1682,  William 
Pcnn  purchased  of  the  duke  of  York,  the  town  of  New 
ly  astle,  and  the  country  twelve  miles  around  it ;  and  by  a 
subsequent  purchase,   obtained  the  land   lying  upon  the 
Delaware,  and  between  New-Castle  and  cape  Henlopen. 
These  tracts,  which  constitute  the  present  state  of  Dela 
ware,  were  called  the  "  Territories,"  and  were,  for  twenty 
years,  governed  as  a  part  of  Pennsylvania. 

6.  They  \veje  divided  into  three  counties,  New-Castle, 
Kent,  and  Sussex,  each  of  which  sent  six  delegates  to  the 
general  assembly.     In  1703,  these  delegates,  dissatisfied 
with  the  last  charter  which   Penn  had  prepared,  and  a 
•majority  of  the  assembly  had  adopted,  seceded,  and,  liberty 

T  <riven.  formed  a  separate  and  distinct  assembly.  The 


PENNSYLVANIA,  69 

I  wo  portions  of  the  province  were  never  afterwards  united, 
hut  t'he  proprietor  continued  to  possess  the  same  jurisdic 
tion,  and  the  same  person  uniformly  acted  as  governor 
over  -both. 

7.  Sheltered  by  the  surrounding  provinces,  Delaware 
enjoyed  an  entire  exemption  from  wars,  except  those  in 
which,  as  a  part  of  the  British  empire,  she  was  obliged  to 
participate.  In  the  war  with  France,  which  terminated 
in  1763,  she  was  second  to  none  in  active  zeal  to  assist 
the  parent  state.  In  the  revolutionary  war,  the  Delaware 
regiment  was  considered  the  most  efficient  in  the  conti 
nental  army. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

WILLIAM  PENN,  the  founder  of  Pennsylvania,  was  the 
son  of  Sir  William  Penn,  an  admiral  in  the  British  navy. 
In  his  youth,  he  joined  the  quakers,  then  an  obscure  and 
persecuted  sect.  While  superintending  the  settlement  of 
New-Jersey,  he  became  acquainted  with  an  extensive 
tract  of  fertile,  unoccupied  land  lying  between  the  terri 
tories  of  the  duke  of  York  and  lord  Baltimore.  At  his 
solicitation,  and  in  recompense  for  unrequited  services 
which  his  father  had  rendered  the  nationjpfthis  tract  was, 
in  1(181,  granted  to  him  in  full  property,  and  by  the  king 
called  Pennsylvania. 

2.  Desirous  of  selling  his  lands  and  founding  a  colony, 
liO,  in  a  public  advertisement,  described  the  country,  and 
set  -forth  the  advantages  which  it  offered  to  emigrants. 
Many  persons,  chiefly  quakers,  were  induced  to  purchase. 
The  fee  simple. of  the  soil  was  sold  at  the  rate  of  twenty 
pounds  for  every  thousand  acres ;  and  they  who  rented 
lands,  agreed  to  pay  one  penny  yearly  per  acre.  Before  the 
emigrants  embarked,  certain  "  conditions  and  concessions" 
were  by  them  and  the  proprietor  agreed  upon  and  subscribed. 

3.  In  the  fall,  three  ships,  carrying  settlers,  sailed  for 
Pennsylvania.      The  pious  and  philanthropic  proprietor 
sent  a  letter  to  the  Indians,  informing  them  that  "the 
great  God  had  been  pleased  to  make  him  concerned  in 
their  part  of  the  world,  and  that  the  king  of  the  country 
where  he  lived,  had  given  him  a  great  province  therein; 


PENNSYLVANIA, 

but  that  he  did  not  desire  to  enjoy  it  without  their  consent ; 
that  he  was  a  man  of  peace ;  and  that  the  people  whom 
he  sent  were  of  the  same  disposition ;  and  if  any  diffe 
rence  should  happen  between  them,  it  might  he  adjusted 
by  an  equal  number  of  men  chosen  on  both  sides."  The 
position  selected  by  these  emigrants  for  a  settlement  was 
above  the  confluence  of  the  Delaware  and  the  Schuylkill. 

4.  In  April,  1682,  Penn  published  a  Frame  of  Govern 
ment,  the  chief  object  of  which  was  declared  to  be  "  to 
support  power  in  reverence  with  the  people,  and  to  secure 
the  people  from  the  abuse  of  power."     He  published  also 
a  Body  of  Laws,  which  had  been  examined  and  approved 
by  the  emigrants  in  England ;  and  which,  says  an  eminent 
historian,  "does  great  honor  to  their  wisdom  as  statesmen, 
to  their  morals  as  men,  and  to  their  spirit  as  colonists." 
From  the  duke  of  York,  he  obtained  the  relinquishrnent 
of  a  tract  of  land,  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the  Delaware, 
a  part  of  which  was  already  settled,  and  in  August,  ac 
companied  by  about  two  thousand  emigrants,  set  sail  for 
America. 

5.  He  landed  first  at  New-Castle,  which  was  a  part  of 
the  "  Territories,"  as  the  land  conveyed  to  him  by  the 
(hike  was  called.     Upon  this  tract  he  found  about  three 
thousand  Dutch,  Swedes,  and  Finns.     He  proceeded  to 
Chester,  where  he  called  an  assembly  on  the  fourth  of 
December.     This  assembly  annexed  the  Territories  to 
the  province,  adopted  tbe  Frame  of  Government,  and 
enacted  in  fornfethe  Body  of  Laws.     Penn  also  made  a 
treaty  with  the  Indians,  from  whom  he  purchased  as  much 
land  as  the  circumstances  of  the  colony  required.     Ho 
selected  the  site,  and  marked  out  the  plan,  of  an  extensive 
city,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Philadelphia,  or  the 
city  of  love.     Before  the  end  of  the  year,  it  contained 
eighty  houses  and  cottages. 

6.  The  settlement  of  none  of  the  colonies  commenced 
under  such  favourable  auspices  as  that  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  experience  of  half  a  century  had  disclosed  the  evils 
to  be  avoided,  and  pointed  out  the  course  to  be  pfflfeued. 
The  Indians,  having  been  already  taught  to  fear  the  power 
of  the  whites,  were  the  more  easily  conciliated  by  their 
kindness.     The  soil  being  fertile,  the  climate  temperate, 
and  the  game  abundant,  the  first  emigrants  escaped  most 
of  the  calamities  which  afflicted  the  more  northern  and 
southern  provinces.  The  increase  of  population  exceeded, 
of  course,  all  former  example. 


PENNSYLVANIA,  91 

7.  In  the  new  city,  a  second  assembly  was  held  in 
March,  1683.  At  the  request  of  the  freemen  and  delegates, 
Penn  granted  them  a  second  charter,  which  diminished  the 
number  of  the  council  and  assembly,  and  was,  in  other 
respects,  different  from  the  first.  Some  of  the  regulations, 
nt  that  time  adopted,  bear  the  impress  of  the  proprietor's 
singular  genius,  and  benevolent  disposition. 

8.  It  was  ordained  "that,  to  prevent  lawsuits,  three 
arbitrators,  to  be  called  peace-makers,  should  be  chosen 
by  the  county  courts,  to  hear  and  determine  small  diffe 
rences  between  man  and  man  :  That  children  should  be 
taught  some  useful  trade,  to  the  end  that  none  might  be 
idle,  that  the  poor  might  work  to  live,  and  the  rich  if  they 
should  become  poor :  That  factors,  wronging  their  employ 
ers,  should  make  satisfaction  and  one  third  over :  That 
every  thing,  which  excites  the  people  to  rudeness,  cruelty^ 
and  irreligion,  should  be  discouraged  and  severely  punished : 
That'  no  one,  acknowledging  one  God  and  living  peaceably 
i?i   society,  should  be  molested  for  his  opinions  or  his 
..practice,  or  compelled  to  frequent  or  maintain  any  ministry 
whatever." 

9.  These   judicious    regulations    attracted    numerous 
emigrants;  and  to  their  salutary  influence  must  be  at 
tributed  the  qualities  of  diligence,  order,  and  economy  for 
which   the    Pennsylvania^    are    so    justly   celebrated. 
Within  four  years  from  the  date  of  the  grant  to  Penn, 
the  province  contained  twenty-settlements,  and  Philadel 
phia  two  thousand  inhabitants. 

10.  In  1684,  the  proprietor  returned  to  England.     He 
left  his  province  in  profound  tranquillity,  under  the  ad 
ministration    of   five    commissioners    chosen   from   the 
council.     The  unfortunate  James  II.  soon  after  ascended 
the  throne.     "As  he  has,"  said  Penn,  "been  my  friend, 
and  my  father's  friend,  I  feel  bound  in  justice  to  be  a  friend 
to  him."    He  adhered  to  him  while  seated  on  the  throne, 
and  for  two  years  after  he  was  expelled  from  his  kingdom, 
the  government  of  the  province  was  administered  in  his 
name. 

11.  By  this  display  of  attachment  to  the  exiled  monarch, 
he  incurred  the  displeasure  of  king*  William.     On  vague 
suspicion,  and  unfounded  charges,  he  was  four  times  im 
prisoned.     The  government  of  his  colony  was  taken  from 
him,  and  given  to  colonel  Fletcher,  the  governor  of  New- 
York.     But  by  the  severest  scrutiny,  it  was  rendered 
apparent,  that  he  had,  in  all  his  conduct,  been  actuated  as 


OL>  PENNSYLVANIA. 

much  by  tlie  love  of  his  country  as  by  personal  gratitude. 
He  regained  the  good  opinion  of  king  William ;  and,  being 
permitted  to  resume  and  exercise  his  rights,  appointed 
William  Markham  to  be  his  deputy  governor. 

12.  In  1699,  he  again  visited  Pennsylvania,  and  found 
the  people  discontented.  They  complained  that  his  powers 
and  their  rights  were  not  defined  with  sufficient  precision? 
and  demanded  a  new  charter.     In  1701,  he  prepared  and 
presented  one  to  the  assembly,  which  was  accepted.     It 
gave  to  the  assembly  the  right  of  originating  bills,  which, 
by  the  previous  charters,  was  tjie  right  of  the  governor 
alone,  and  of  amending  or  rejecting  those  which  might  be 
laid  before  them.     To  the  governor  it  gave  the  right  of 
rejecting  bills  passed  by  the  assembly,  of  appointing  his 
own  council,  and  of  exercising  the  whole  executive  power. 
The  Territories,  now  the  state  of  Delaware,  refusing  to 
accept  the  new  charter,  separated  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
were  allowed  a  distinct  assembly.     The  same  governor, 
however,  presided  over  both. 

13.  Immediately  after  his  third  charter  was  accepted, 
Penn  returned  to  England,  and  the  executive  authority 
was  afterwards  administered  by  deputy  governors  appointed 
by  the  proprietor.     The  people  incessantly  murmured  and 
complained  ;  but  the  uninterrupted  and  unparalleled  pros 
perity  of  the  colony  demonstrates,  that  but  slight  causes 
of  complaint  existed.     That  which  produced  the  greatest 
jiud  most  constant  irritation  was  the  refusal,  by  the  deputy 
jrovernors,  to  assent sto  any  law  imposing  taxes  on  the 
lands  of  the  proprietors,  although  the  sum  raised  was  to 
be  expended  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole  province.     This 
unwise,  and  indeed  unjust,  claim  of  exemption,  occasioned 
greater  disgust  than  injury,  and  embittered  all  the  enjoy 
ments  of  the  inhabitants. 

14.  But  these  dissensions  did  not,  in  the  least,  retard  the 
prosperity  of  the  colony.     Nor  did  any  other  cause,  having 
that  tendency,  exist.     The  upright  conduct  of  Penn,  in 
his  intercourse  with  the  Indians,  was  imitated  by  those 
who  came  after  him ;  and,  for  seventy  years,  uninterrupted 
harmony  existed  between  them  and  the  whites.     In  the 
early  part  of  the  revolutionary  war,  the  people  adopted  a 
new  constitution,  by  which  the  proprietor  was  excluded 
from  all  share  in  the  government.     He  was  offered,  and 
finally  accepted,  the  sum  of  570,000  dollars,  in  discharge 
of  all  quit-rents  due  from  the  inhabitants. 


CHAPTER  X. 
MARYLAND. 

DURING  the  reign  of  James  I,  the  laws  against  Ro 
man  Catholics  were  severe  and  the  popular  hatred  was 
inveterate.  Lord  Baltimore,  a  distinguished  member  of 
that  sect,  resolved,  in  consequence,  to  remove  from  Eng 
land  to  Virginia,  believing  that  he  might  there  enjoy  his 
religious  opinions,  without  violating  the  laws  or  incurring 
reproach.  But  the  people  among  whom  he  came  to  reside, 
were  almost  as  intolerant  as  those  he  had  left,  and  he 
soon  found  it  necessary  to  seek  some  other  asylum. 

2.  Having  ascertained  that  the  territory  on  both  sides 
of  Chesapeake  bay,  was  inhabited  only  by  the  natives,  he 
conceived  the  project  of  planting  there  a  colony  for  himself, 
and  for  all  who  might  wi/yi  to  retire  from  religious  persecu 
tion.     He  explored  the  country,  returned  to  England,  ob 
tained  the  assent  of  king  Charles  I  to  a  grant  of  territory, 
but  died  before  the  requisite  formalities  were  completed. 

3.  Cecil,  his  eldest  son,  and  heir  to  his  estate  and  titK 
obtained  for  himself  the  grant  intended  for  his  father.     To 
the  new  colony  the  name  of  Maryland  was  given,  in  honor 
of  Henrietta  Maria,  the  royal  consort  of  Charles.     The 
land  conveyed  being  within  the  boundaries  of  Virginia,  the 
planters  in  that  province  remonstrated  against  the  grant. 
The  king  refusing  to  rescind  it,  lord  Baltimore  made 
preparations  to  commence  a  settlement.     He  appointed 
his  brother,  Leonard  Calvert,  governor;  who,  near  the 
close  of  the  year  1633,  sailed  for  America,  accompanied 
by  about  two  hundred  emigrants,  mostly  Roman  Catholics. 

4.  They  arrived  in  February,  1634,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Potomac.     At  a  conference  with  the  Indians  who 
dwelt  on  the  shore,  they  purchased  Yoamaco,  a  considerable 
village,  the  site  of  which  St.  Mary's  now  occupies.    By 
this  measure,  wise  as  well  as  just,  the  rightful  proprietors 
of  the  soil  were  satisfied,  convenient  habitations  and  some 
cultivated  land  were  obtained,  and  the  first  settlers  were 
of  course  exempted  from  the  miseries  of  famine,  and  from 
the  diseases  which  it  produces. 

5.  Other  circumstances  favored  the  rapid  population  of 
the  colony.     The  charter  granted  more  ample  privileges 
than  had  ever  been  conceded  to  a  subject ;  the  country 
was  inviting;  the  natives  were  friendly;  from  the  south 


94  MARYLAND. 

churchmen  drove  puritans,  from  the  north  puritans  drove* 
churchmen,  into  her  borders,  where  all  were  freely  received, 
protected,  and  cherished. 

6.  The  charter  granted  to  the  inhabitants  the  privilege 
of  passing  laws  either  by  themselves  or  representatives, 
without  reserving  to  the  crown,  as  had  been  done  in  all 
previous  charters,  the  right  to  reject  the  laws  so  passed* 
At  first,  when  the  freemen  were  few  in  number,  each 
attended  in  person,  or  authorized  some  other  freeman,  who 
chose  to  attend,  to  vote  and  act  in  his  stead.  The  increase 
of  population  soon  rendered  it  necessary  to  adopt  a  differ 
ent  mode  of  legislation.  In  1639,  an  act  was  passed, 
constituting  a  "house  of  assembly,"  to  be  composed  of  such 
as  should  be  chosen  by  the  people,  of  such  as  should  be 
summoned  or  appointed  by  the  proprietor,  and  of  the  gover 
nor  and  secretary.  These  were  to  sit  together,  and  the 
laws  which  they  should  enact  were  to  possess  the  same 
validity,  as  though  the  proprietors  and  all  the  people 
had  concurred  in  enacting  them. 

7.  In  1650,  a  second  alteration  was  made.     The  legis 
lative  body  was  divided  into  two  branches,  the  delegates 
chosen  by  the  people  constituting  the  lower  house,  and  the 
persons  summoned  by  the  proprietors,  the  upper  house.-    It 
ought  to  be  stated,  for  the  honor  of  lord  Baltimore  and 
his  associates,  that,  while   the    catholics   retained  the 
ascendency  in  the  province,  the  assembly  passed  no  law 
abridging  the  liberty  of  conscience. 

8.  But  this  colony,  as  well  as  all  the  others,  in  the  early 
period  of  their  existence,  was   afflicted  with  intestine 
troubles.     They  were  principally  caused  by  one  William 
Clayborne.     While  a  member  of  the  Virginia  council  he 
had  obtained  a  license  from  the  king,  to  traffic  in  those 
parts  of  America  where  no  other  person  enjoyed  the  exclu 
sive  right  of  trade.     Under  this  license,  he  had  made  a 
small  settlement  on  the  island  of  Kent,  and,  when  the 
grant  was  made  to  lord  Baltimore,  refused  to  submit  to  his 
authority.      He   persuaded  the  natives  that  the  "new 
comers"  were  Spaniards,  and  enemies  to  the  Virginians. 
An  Indian  war  was  the  consequence,  which  continued 
several  years,  and  was  productive  of  considerable  distress. 

9.  Clayborne  was  indicted  and  convicted  of  murder, 
piracy,  and  sedition ;  and  fleeing  from  justice,  his  estate 
was  confiscated.     He  applied  to  the  king  for  redress,  but 
after  a  full  hearing,  was  dismissed  without  obtaining  any 
order  in  his  favor.     When  thf  civil  war.  between  iiif  kim;v 


MARYLAND.  95 

and  parliament,  began,  he  embraced  the  cause  of  the  latter, 
returned  to  Maryland,  and,  by  his  intrigues  fomented,  in 
1645,  a  rebellion  against  its  rulers,  who  were  attached  to 
the  royal  cause.  Calvert,  the  governor,  was  compelled  to 
fly  to  Virginia,  and  the  insurgents  seized  the  reins  of 
government.  The  next  year,  however,  the  revolt  was 
suppressed  and  tranquillity  restored. 

10.  But  after  the  parliament  had  triumphed  over  the 
king,  they  appointed  commissioners  for  "  reducing  and 
jioverning  the  colonies  within  the  bay  of  Chesapeake." 
Among  these  was  Clayborne,  the  evil  genius  of  Maryland. 
The  proprietor,  consenting  to  acknowledge  the  authority 
of  parliament,  was  permitted  to  retain  his  station,  but  was 
unable  to  preserve  tranquillity.     The  distractions  of  Eng 
land,  finding  their  way  into  the  colony,  occasioned  a  civil 
war,  which  ended  in  the  discomfiture  of  the  governor  and 
Roman  Catholics. 

11.  The  next  assembly,  which  was  entirely  under  the 
influence  of  the  victorious  party,  ordained  that  persons 
professing  the  Catholic  religion  should  not  be  considered 
within  the   protection  of  the  laws.      Thus  were   they 
ungratefully  persecuted  by  men  whom  they  had  taken  to 
their  bosom,  and  in  a  colony  which  they  had  founded. 
Laws  unfavorable  to  the  Quakers  were  also  enacted,  and 
here,  as  in  England,  the  upper  house  was  voted  to  be 
useless.     At  the  restoration,. in  KIGO,  Philip  Calvert  was 
appointed  governor,  and  the  ancient  order  of  things  restored. 
The  colony  then  contained  about  twelve  thousand  inhab 
itants.  ,    ; 

12.  In  1G76,  died  Cecil,  lord  Baltimore,  the  father  of 
the  province.     For  more  than  forty  years,  he  had  directed 
its  affairs  as  proprietor,  and  displayed,  in  all  his  conduct, 
a  benevolent  heart  and  enlightened  understanding.     Al 
though  he  lived  in  an  age  of  bigotry,  he  was  liberal  in  his 
opinions ;  and  for  all  his  exertions  to  contribute  to  the 
happiness  of  his  fellow  beings,  he  desired  no  reward  but 
their  gratitude.     This  reward  he  received.     The  records 
of  the  Maryland  assembly  contain  frequent  memorials  of 
the  respect  and  affection  of  the  people.   He  was  succeeded, 
us  proprietor,  by  his  eldest  son,  Charles,  who  had,  for 
several  years,  been  governor  of  the  colony,  and  displayed 
the  same  amiable  qualities  which  had  rendered  his  father 
respected  and  beloved. 

13.  In  the  year  1689,  the  epoch  of  the  revolution  in 
England,  the  repose  of  Maryland  was  again  disturbed.    A 


9S  NORTH-CAROLINA. 

rumor  was  artfully  circulated,  that  the  Catholics  had 
leagued  with  the  Indians  to  destroy  all  the  Protestants  in 
the  province.  An  armed  association  was  immediately 
formed,  for  the  defence  of  the  Protestant  religion,  and  for 
asserting  the  rights  of  king  William  and  queen  Mary. 
The  magistrates  attempted  to  oppose  by  force  this  asso 
ciation  ;  but,  meeting  with  few  supporters,  were  compelled 
to  abdicate  the  government. 

14.  King  William  directed  those  who  had  assumed  the 
supreme  authority  to  exercise  it  in  his  name;  and  for 
twenty-seven  years  the  crown  retained  the  entire  control 
of  the  province.  In  1716,  the  proprietor  was  restored  to 
his  rights ;  and  he  and  his  descendants  continued  to  enjoy 
them  until  the  commencement  of  the  revolution.  Th« 
people  then  assumed  the  government,  adopted  a  constitu 
tion,  and  refused  to  admit  the  claims  of  lord  Baltimore  to 
jurisdiction  or  property. 


'  CHAPTER  XL 
NORTH-CAROLINA. 

IN  1G30,  Charles  I  granted  to  Sir  Robert  Heath  all  the 
territory  between  the  30th  and  36th  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  and  extending  from  the  Atlantic  ocean  to  the 
South  sea,  by  the  name  of  Carolina.  Under  this  grant,  no 
settlement  was  made.  Between  1640  and  1650,  persons 
suffering  from  religious  intolerance  in  Virginia,  fled  beyond 
her  limits,  and,  without  license  from  any  source,  occupied 
that  portion  of  North-Carolina,  north  of  Albemarle  sound. 
They  found  the  winters  mild  and  the  soil  fertile.  As  their 
cattle  and  swine  procured  their  own  support  in  the  woods 
and  multiplied  fast,  they  were  enabled,  with  little  labor, 
to  live  in  the  enjoyment  of  abundance.  Their  number 
was  annually  augmented ;  they  acknowledged  no  superior 
upon  earth,  and  obeyed  no  laws  but  those  of  God  and  nature. 

2.  In  1661,  another  settlement  was  made,  near  the 
mouth  of  Clarendon  river,  by  adventurers  from  Massachu 
setts.     The  land  being  sterile  and  the  Indians  hostile, 
they,  in   1663,  abandoned  it.     Immediately  afterwards, 
their  place  was  supplied  by  emigrants  from  Barbadoes,  who 
invested  Sir  John  Yeoman  s  with  the  authority  of  governor. 

3.  Sir  Robert  Heath  having  neglected  to  comply  with 


NORTH-CAROLINA.  97 

the  conditions  of  his  patent,  the  king,  in  1663,  granted 
the  same  territory  to  lord  Clarendon  and  seven  others, 
and  invested  them  with  ample  powers  of  government  over 
those  who  should  inhabit  it.  To  encourage  emigration, 
they  gave  public  assurances,  that  all  who  might  remove  to 
their  territory,  should  enjoy  unrestricted  religious  liberty, 
and  be  governed  by  a  free  assembly.  The  settlers  on 
Albemarle  sound  were,  on  certain  conditions,  allowed  to 
retain  their  lands.  A  government  over  them  was  organized, 
at  the  head  of  which  a  Mr.  Drummond  was  placed.  With 
the  regulations  imposed,  they  were  dissatisfied,  and  re 
volted  ;  but  their  grievances  were  redressed,  and,  in  1668, 
they  returned  to  their  duty. 

4.  At  the  request  of  the  proprietors,   the  celebrated 
John  Locke,  whose  political  writings  were  then  much 
read  and  admired,  prepared  for  the  colony  a  constitution 
of  government.     It  provided  that  a  chief  officer,  to  be 
called  the  palatine  and  to  hold  his  office  during  life,  should 
be  elected  from  among  the  proprietors ;  that  a  hereditary 
nobility,  to  be  called  landgraves  and  caziques,  should  be 
*created;   and  that,  once  in  two  years,   representatives 
should  be  chosen  by  the  freeholders.     All  these,  with  the 
proprietors  or  their  deputies,  were  to  meet  in  one  assembly, 
which  was  to  be  called  the  parliament,  and  over  which 
the  palatine  was  to  preside.     The  parliament  could  de 
liberate  and  decide  only  upon  such  propositions  r,s  should 
be  laid  before  it  by  a  grand  council  composed   of  the 
palatine,  nobility,  and  deputies  of  the  proprietors. 

5.  This  constitution,  however  wise  it  might  seem  to 
English  politicians,  was  not  adapted  to  the  sentiments 
and  habits  of  the  people  for  whom  it  was  prepared.     Its 
aristocratic  features  displeased  them.      The   measures 
adopted  to  introduce  and  enforce  it,  produced,  in  connection 
with  other  causes,  an  insurrection,  in  the  progress  of 
which  the .  palatine,  and  the  deputies  were  seized  and 
imprisoned.     Application  was  made  to  Virginia  for  as 
sistance  in  restoring  order ;  but  the  fear  of  punishment 
induced  the  insurgents  to  submit,  before  an  armed  force 
could  be  arrayed  against  them. 

6.  In  1670,  William  Sayle,  under  the  direction  of  the 
proprietors,  made  a  settlement  at  Port  Royal,  within  the 
limits  of  South-Carolina.  The  next  year,  dissatisfied  with 
this  station,  he  removed  his  colony  northward,  to  a  neck 
of  land  between  Ashley  and  Cooper  rivers,  where  he  laid 
out  a  town,  which,  in  honour  of  the  king  then  reigning, 


9»  NORTH-CAROLINA. 

he  called  Charleston.  Dying  soon  after,  Sir  John  Yetf-* 
mans,  who  had,  for  several  years,  been  governor  at 
Clarendon,  was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  This  new 
settlement  attracted  at  first  many  inhabitants  from  that  at 
Clarendon,  and  at  length  entirely  exhausted  it.  Being 
remote  from  Albemarle,  the  proprietors  established  a 
separate  government  over  it,  and  hence  arose  the  distinc 
tive  appellations  of  North  and  South-Carolina. 

7.  The  prosperity  of  the  northern  colony  was  retarded 
by  domestic  dissensions.     To  allay  them,  Seth  Sothel, 
oiu,  of  the  proprietors,  was  appointed  chief  magistrate. 
His  conduct,  far  from  restoring  quiet  and  contentment, 
increased  the  disorders  which  had  before  prevailed.     He 
is   represented  as   the  most  corrupt   and  rapacious  of 
colonial  governors.     He  plundered  the  innocent  and  re 
ceived  bribes  from  felons.     For  six  years,  the  inhabitants 
endured  his  injustice  and  oppression.     They  then  seized 
him,  with  a  view  of  sending  him  to  England  for  trial.  At 
his  request,  he  was  detained  and  tried  by  the  assembly, 
who  banished  him  from  the  colony. 

8.  His  successor  was  Philip  Ludwell,  of  Virginia,  and 
to  him  succeeded  John  Archdale,  who  was  a  quaker  and 
one  of  the  proprietors.      Both  were  popular  governors; 
under  their  administration,  the  colony  prospered  and  the 

5)Hople  were  happy.  In  1693,  at  the  request  of  the  Caro* 
inians,  the  constitution  of  Locke  was  abrogated  by. the 
proprietors,  and  each  colony  was  afterwards  ruled  by  a 
governor,  council,  and  house  of  representatives. 

9.  In  1707,  a  company  of  French  protestants  arrived 
and  seated  themselves  on  the  river  Trent,  a  branch  of  the 
Neuse,  in  1710,  a  large  number  of  Palatines,  fleeing  from 
religious  persecution  in  Germany,  sought  refuge  in  the 
same  part  of  the  province.     To  each  of  these,  the  pro 
prietors  granted  one  hundred  acres  of  land.     They  lived 
happy,  for  a  few  years,  in  the  enjoyment  of  liberty  of 
conscience,  and  in  the  prospect  of  competence  and  ease. 

10.  But  suddenly  a  terrible  calamity  fell  upon  them. 
The  Tuscarora  and  Coree  Indians,  smarting  under  recent 
injuries,  and  dreading  total  extinction  from  the  encroach 
ment  of  these    strangers,    plotted,    with   characteristic 
secrecy,  their  entire  destruction.     Sending  their  families 
to  one  of  their  fortified  towns,  twelve  hundred  bowmen 
sallied  forth,  and,  in  the  same  night,  attacked,  in  separate 
parties,  the  nearest  settlements  of  the  Palatines.     Men, 
women,  and  children  were  indiscriminately  butchered. 


NORTH-CAROLINA.  99 

IThe  savages,  with  the  swiftness  and  ferocity  of  wolves, 
ran  from  village  to  village.  Before  them,  was  the  repose 
of  innocence ;  behind,  the  sleep  of  death.  A  few,  escaping, 
alarmed  the  settlements  more  remote,  and  hastened  to 
South-Carolina  for  assistance. 

11.  Governor  Craven  immediately  despatched*  to  the 
aid  of  the  sister  colony,  nearly  a  thousand  men>  under  the 
command  of  colonel  Barnwell.     After  a  fatiguing  march 
through  a  hideous  wilderness,  they  met  the  enemy,  at 
tacked  j  defeated,  and  pursued  them  to  their  fortified  town, 
which  was  immediately  besieged.     In  a  few  days^  peace, 
at  their  solicitation,  was  concluded,  and  colonel  Barnwell 
returned  to  South- Carolina. 

12.  The  peace  was  short,  and  upon  the  recommence 
ment  of  hostilities,  .assistance  was  again  solicited  from  the 
southern  colony.     Colonel  James  Moore,  an  active  young 
officer,   was  immediately   despatched,  with  forty  white 
men  and  eight  hundred  friendly  Indians.     He  found  the 
enemy  in  a  fort  near  Cotechny  river.  After  a  siege,  which 
continued  more  than  a  week,  the  fort  was  taken  and  eight 
hundred  Indians  made  prisoners.      The  Tuscaroras,  dis 
heartened  by  this  defeat,  migrated,  in  1713,  to  the  north, 
and  joined  the   celebrated  confederacy,  denominated  the 
Five  Nations.     The  others  sued  for  peace,  and  afterwards 
continued  friendly. 

13.  Until  1729,  the  two  Carolinas,  though  distinct  for 
many  purposes,  remained  under  the  superintendence  and 
control  of  the  same  proprietors.     Neither  had  been  pros 
perous  ;  an4  the  interests  of  the  governors  and  governed 
being  apparently  adverse  to  each  other,  the  latter  became 
discontented  and  refractory.      They  complained  to  the 
king,  who  directed  inquiry  to  he  made  in  his  courts.     The 
charter  which  he  had  granted  was  declared  forfeited,  and 
over  each  colony,  royal  governments,  entirely  unconnected 
with  each  other,  wTere  established. 

14.  Soon  after  this    event,  the  soil  in  the   interior  of 
North-Carolina  was  found  to  be  superior  in  fertility  to 
that  on  the  sea-coast.     The  settlements,  consequently, 
advanced  rapidly  into  the  wilderness.     From  the  northern 
colonies,  particularly  Pennsylvania,  multitudes  were  al 
lured  to  this  region  by  the  mildness  of  the  climate,  and  by 
the  facility  of  obtaining  in  abundance  all  the  neccessaries 
of  life.     At  peace  with  the  Indians,  and  fortunate  in  her 
governors,  the  colony  continued  to  prosper  until  the  com- 
•mnno-ement  oftho  troubles  which  preceoded  the  revolution.. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
SOUTH-CAROLINA. 

THIS  colony,  and  that  of  North- Carolina,  were,  as  has  al 
ready  been  stated,  included  in  the  same  charter.  In  16r/0, 
governor  Sayle  made,  at  Port  Royal,  the  first  permanent 
settlement  within  its  limits.  The  next  year,  he  founded 
Old  Charleston,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Ashley.  In 
1684,  all  the  freemen,  meeting  at  this  place,  elected  rep 
resentatives  to  sit  in  the  colonial  parliament,  according  to 
the  provisions  of  the  constitution  prepared  by  Mr.Locke. 

2.  Several  circumstances  contributed  to  promote  the 
settlement  of  tliis  colony.     The  conquest  of  New- York 
induced  many  of  the  Dutch  to  resort  to  it.     From  Eng 
land,  puritans  came  to  avoid  the  profanity  and  licentious 
ness  which  disgraced  the  court  of  Charles  II ;  and  cav 
aliers,  to  retrieve  their  fortunes,   exhausted  by  the  civil 
wars.   The  arbitrary  measures  of  Louis  XIV,  drove  many 
French  protestants  into  exile,  some  of  whom  crossed  the 
Atlantic  and  settled  in  Carolina.     Many  of  these   exiles 
were  rich ;  all  were  industrious,  and  by  their  exemplary 
demeanor  gained  the  good  will  of  the  proprietors. 

3.  The  situation  of  Charleston  being  found  inconve 
nient,  the  inhabitants,  in  1680,  removed  to  Oyster  Point, 
where  a  new  city  was   laid  out,  to  which  the  name  of  the 
other  was  given.    In  the  same  year,  commenced  a  war  with 
the  Westoes,  a  powerful  tribe  of  Indians,  which  threaten 
ed  great  injury  to  the  colony.     Peace,  however,  was  soon 
restored.     In  1690,  Seth  Sothel,  one  of  the  proprietors, 
having,  for  corrupt  conduct,  been  driven  from  North-Car 
olina,  appeared  suddenly  at  Charleston,   and,  aided  by  a 
powerful  faction,  assumed  the  reins  of  government.     Two 
years  afterwards  he  was  removed  from  office. 

4.  The  proprietors,  having  observed  the  good  conduct 
of  the  French  protestants,  directed  the  governor  to  permit 
them  to  elect  representatives,  a  privilege  which  they  had 
never  yet  exercised.      The  English  Episcopalians,  unwil 
ling  that  any  of  their  heriditary  enemies,  who  did  not  be 
long  to  their  church,  should  be  associated  with  themselves 
in  the  enjoyment  of  the  rights  of  freemen,  were  exasper 
ated,  and  opposed  the  concession  with  great  clamour  and 
zeal.     They  even  went  farther.     Warmed   by  opposition, 
they  proposed  to  enforce,  with  respect  to  thorp,  the  laws 


SOUTH-CAftOLWA/  101 


flY  England  against"  forei^Qe^s,  ijisjstirig.:fckdj£  $rtry  ;cciilvl 
Kot  legally  possess  real  estate-  inj  tiie  colony."  •Tfley-afsSl 
declared  that  their  marriages,  being  solemnized  by  French 
ministers,  were  void,  and  that  the  children  could  not  in 
herit  the  property  of  their  fathers.  By  the  display  of  a 
spirit  so  illiberal  and  unchristian,  these  strangers  were 
alarmed  and  discouraged.  They  knew  not  for  whom  they 
labored.  But,  countenanced  by  the  governor*  they  re 
mained  in  the  colony,  and,  for  the  present,  withdrew  their 
claim  to  the  right  of  suffrage. 

5.  Yet  the  ferment  did  not  subside  on  the  removal  of 
the  cause  which   produced  it.      Such  was  the  general 
turbulence  and  disorder,  the  people  complaining  pf  their 
rulers  and  quarrelling  among  themselves,  that,  in  1695, 
John  Archdale  was  sent  over,  as  governor  of  both  Caro- 
linas,  and  invested  with  full  power  to  redress  all  grievan 
ces.     He  succeeded  in  restoring   order,   but  found   the 
antipathy  against  the  unfortunate  exiles  too  great  to  be 
encountered^  with  any  hope  of  success,  until  softened  by 
time  and  their  amiable  deportment.     These  produced  the 
effects  which  he  anticipated.     In.  a  few  years,  the  French 
protestants  were  admitted,  by  the  general  assembly,  to  all 
the  rights  of  citizens  and  freemen. 

6.  Although  the  proprietors,  by  the  regulations  which 
were  in  force  before  the  constitution  of  Locke  was  adopted, 
and  which  were  restored  upon  its  abrogation,  had  stipula 
ted,    that   liberty  of  conscience   should  be  universally 
enjoyed;   yet  one  of  them*   Lord  Granville,   a  bigoted 
churchman,  and  James  Moore,  the  governor,  resolved  to 
effect,  if  possible,  the  establishment,  in  the  colony,  of 
the  Episcopal  religion.     They  knew  that  a  majority  of 
the  people  were  dissenters,  and  that  by  art  and  intrigue 
only,  could  their  design  be  accomplished.     The  governor, 
who  was  avaricious  and  venal,  became  the  tool  of  Gran 
ville.     He  interfered  in  the  elections,  and,  by  bribing  the 
voters,  succeeded  in  procuring  a  majority  in  the  assembly 
who  would  be  subservient  to  his  wishes. 

7.  A  law  wa*o  passed,  establishing  the  episcopal  religion, 
and  excluding  dissenters  from  a  seat  in  the  assembly.     It 
was  laid  before  the  proprietors,  without  whose  sa*i«;tion  it 
could  not  possess  permanent  validity.    Archdale,  who  had 
returned  to  England,  opposed  it  with  ability  and  spirit. 
He  insisted  that  good  faith,  policy,  interest,  even  piety, 
concurred  to  dictate  its  rejection.     But  lord  Granville  de- 
rlared  himself  in  favor  of  it,  and  it  received  confirmation* 

i  2 


i-02  iSO  UTH-CAROLINA. 

'&  The  dissenrers  saw  them?>e}yes  kt  once  deprived  of 
ihoss  privileges  for  which  theybku  abandoned  their  fiUtive 
country,  and  encountered  the  dangers  and  hardships  of 
the  ocean  and  a  wilderness.  Some  prepared  to  leave  the 
colony  and  settle  in  Pennsylvania.  Others  proposed  that 
a  remonstrance  against  the  law  should  first  be  presented 
to  the  house  of  lords,  and  this  measure  was  adopted.  The 
lords  expressed,  by  a  vote,  their  disapprobation  of  the  law, 
and  upon  their  solicitation,  queen  Anne  declared  it  void. 
Soon  after,  lord  Granville  died,  and  the  colony,  controlled 
by  more  liberal  councils,  again  enjoyed  the  blessings  of 
domestic  quiet. 

9.  In  1702,  war  then  existing  between  England  and 
Spain,  governor  Moore,  thirsting^  for  Spanish  plunder,  led 
an  expedition  against  St.  Augustine.  It  was  badly  planned, 
worse  executed,  and  failed.  Returning  from  defeat  abroad, 
he  met,  at  home,  the  reproaches  of  his  people.  To  silence 
these,  he  marched,  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  troops,  against 
the  Apalaehian  Indians,  who  had  become  insolent  and 
hostile.  In  this  expedition  he  was  successful,  taking  many 
prisoners,  and  laying  their  towns  in  ashes.  By  his  victories 
over  the   savages,  he  retrieved  his  character;   and,  by 
selling  the  prisoners  as  slaves,  obtained,  what  he  most 
coveted,  considerable  personal  emolument. 

10.  In    1700,   the   Spaniards,    from   Florida,    invaded 
Carolina.     The  governor,  Nathaniel  Johnson,  having  re 
ceived  intimation  of  their  approach,  erected  fortifications 
and  made  arrangements  to  obtain,  on  short  warning,  the 
assistance  of  the  militia.     When  the  enemy's  fleet  ap 
peared  before  Charleston,  the  whole  strength  of  the  colony 
was  summoned  to  defend  it.  A  force  so  formidable  ensured 
its  safety.     After  burning  a  few  detached  buildings,  the 
enemy  retired  without  inflicting  other  injury.     One  of 
their  ships,  having  ninety  men  on  board,  was  captured  by 
the  Carolinians. 

11.  In  1715,  after  several  years  of  profound  peace,  au 
Indian  war  broke  out.     All  the  tribes,  from  Florida  to  cape 
Fear,  had  been  long  engaged  in  a  conspiracy  to  extirpate 
the  whites.    In  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  April,  the  first 
blow  W£S   struck.     At  Pocataligo,  and  the  settlements 
around  Port  Royal,  ninety  persons  were  massacred.    The 
inhabitants  of  the  latter  place   escaped,  by  embarking 
precipitately  on  board  a  vessel,  which  was  then  in  the 
harbor,  and  sailing  directly  to  Charleston. 

J*    Thi«  massacre  was  perpetrated  by  the   southern 


SOUTH-CAROLINA.  103 

Indians.  The  northern,  at  the  same  time,  attacked  the 
settlements  near  them.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  were 
kilted,  and  many  fled  to  Charleston.  At  a  plantation  on 
Goose  creek,  seventy  whites  and  forty  faithful  negroes, 
being  protected  by  a  breast  work,  determined  to  maintain 
their  post.  On  the  first  attack,  their  courage  failed,  and 
they  agreed  to  surrender.  The  instant  they  were  in  the 
power  of  the  enemy,  all  were  barbarously  murdered. 

13.  Governor  Craven,  at  the  head  of  twelve  hundred 
men,  inarched  against  the  savages.    He  discovered  in  the 
w&terness  several  small  parties,  who  fled  before  him.  At 
Snrccatchers,  he  found  them  all  assembled,  and  there  an 
obstinate  and  bloody  battle  was  fought.    The  whites  were 
victorious,  driving  the  enemy  before  them,  and  compelling 
them  to  leave  the  province.  Most  of  them  fled  to  Florida, 
where  they  were  received,  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  by 
the  Spaniards. 

14.  In  this  short  war,  four  hundred  whites  were  killed, 
property  of  great  value  destroyed,  and  a  large  debt  con 
tracted.  The  proprietors  though  earnestly  solicited,  refused 
to  afford  any  relief,  or  to  pay  any  portion  of  the  debt. 
The  assembly  determined  to  remunerate  the  colony,  by 
disposing  of  the  land  from  which  the  Indians  had  been 
driven.     The  terms  offered  were  so  favorable,  that  five 
hundred  Irishmen  immediately  came  over,  and  planted 
themselves  on  the  frontiers. 

15.  The  proprietors,  refusing  to  sanction  the  proceedings 
of  the  assembly,  deprived  these  emigrants  of  their  lands. 
Some,  reduced  to  extreme  proverty,  perished  from  want, 
others  resorted  to  the  northern  colonies.   A  strong  barrier 
between  the  old  settlements  and  the  savages,  was  thus 

'  removed,  and  the  country  again  exposed  to  their  incur- " 
sions.     The  people  were  exasperated,  and  longed  for  a, 
change  of  masters. 

16.  The  corrupt  and  oppressive  conduct  of  Trott,  the 
chief-justice,  and  Rhett,  the  receiver-general,  increased 
the  discontent.     Of  the  former,  the  governor  and  council 
complained  to  the  proprietors,  and   solicited  his  recall. 
Instead  of   removing   him,   they  thanked   him   for  his 
services,  and  removed  the  governor  and  council.     With 
the  governor  next  appointed,  though   a  man  generally 
beloved,  the  assembly  refused  to  have  any  concern  or 
intercourse.      They  drew  up  articles   of  impeachment; 
against  Trott,  accusing  him  of  corruption  and  gross  mis- 


104  &OUTH-CAROLINA. 

conduct,  and  sent  an  agent  to  England,  to  maintain  their* 
accusation  before  the  proprietors.  He  was  nevertheless 
continued  in  office. 

17.  The  patience  of  the  people  was  exhausted,  and 
they  waited  only  for  a  favorable  opportunity  to  throw  off 
their  oppressive  yoke.     In  1719,  at  a  general  review  of 
the  militia  at  Charleston^  occasioned  by  a  threatened  inva 
sion  of  the  colony,  from  Florida,  the  officers  and  soldiers 
bound  themselves,  by  a  solemn  compact^  to  support  each 
other  in  resisting  the  tyranny  of  the  proprietors  ;  and  the 
assembly,  which   was  then    in   session,    requested  Jfie 
governor,  by.  a  respectful  address,  to  consent  to  administer 
the  government  in  the  name  of  the  king. 

18.  He  refused,  and  by  proclamation,  dissolved  the  as 
sembly.     The  members  immediately  met  as  a  convention, 
and  elected  colonel  James  Moore  their  governor.    He  was 
a  bold  man,  and  exceedingly  well  qualified  for  a  popular 
leader,  in  a  turbulent  season.     He  accepted  the  appoint 
ment,  and,  assisted  by  the  convention,  and  supported  by 
the  people,  administered  the  affairs  of  the  colony. 

19.  The   conduct  of  the  proprietors  and  people   was 
brought  before  his  majesty  in  council.  After  a  full  hearing^ 
it  was  decided,  that  f>oth  colonies  should  be  taken  under 
the  protection  of  the  crown.     Several  years  afterwards, 
seven  of  the  proprietors  sold  to  the  king  their  claim  to 
the  soil  and  rents,  and  all  assigned  to  him  their  right  of 
jurisdiction.    The  government  was  subsequently  adminis 
tered  by  executive  officers,  appointed  by  the  crown,  and 
by  assemblies,  chosen  by  the  people,  and  under  their 
control  the  colony  prospered. 

20.  In  1738,  occurred  an  alarming  insurrection  of  the 
negroes.  A  number  of  them  assembled  at  Stono,  surprised 
and  killed  two  men  who  had  charge  of  a  ware-house,  from 
which  they  took  guns  and  ammunition.   They  then  chose 
a  captain,  and,  with  drums   beating  and  colors  flying, 
marched  southwestward.     They  burned  every  house  on 
their  way,  killed  all  the  whites  they  could  find*  and  com 
pelled  other  negroes  to  join  them. 

21.  Governor  Bull,  who  was  returning  to  Charleston, 
from  the  southward,  accidentally  met  them,  hastened  out 
of  their  way,  and  spread  an  alarm.  The  news  soon  reached 
Wiltown,  where,  fortunately,  a  large  congregation  were 
attending  divine  service.     The  men  having,  according  to 
a  law  of  the  province,  brought  their  arms  to  the  place 


GEORGIA.  105 

.of  worship,  marched  instantly  in  quest  of  the  negroes, 
who,  by  this  time,  liad  become  formidable,  and  spread 
terror  and  desolation  around  them. 

22.  While,  in  an  open  field,  they  were  carousing  and 
dancing,  with  frantic  exultation  at  their  late  success,  they 
were   suddenly   attacked   by   the  whites.     Some   were 
killed,  the  remainder  fled.     Most  of  the  fugitives  were 
taken  and  tried.     They  who  had  been  compelled  to  join 
the  conspirators,  were  pardoned  ;^  but  all  the  leaders  and 
first   insurgents   suffered   death."   About  twenty  whites 
were  murdered. 

23.  From  this  period  until  the  era  of  the  revolution,  no 
important  event  occurred  in  the  colony.  It  was  sometimes 
distressed  by  Indian  wars ;  but  the  number  of  inhabitants 
and  the  means  of  subsistence  and  comfort,  were  constantly 
increasing.  Emigrants  came  principally  from  the  northern 
colonies;   but  often  large  bodies  of  protestants  arrived 
from  Europe ;  in  one  year,  1752,  the  number  who  came 
exceeded  sixteen  hundred. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
GEORGIA. 

UPON  the  southern  part  of  the  territory  included  in  the 
Carolina  charter,  no  settlement  was  made,  until  several 
years  after  that  charter  was  forfeited.  In  June,  1732, 
several  benevolent  gentlemen,  in  England,  concerted  a 
project  for  planting  a  colony  in  that  unoccupied  region. 
Their  principal  object  was  to  relieve,  by  transporting 
thither,  the  indigent  subjects  of  Great  Britain  ;  but  their 
plan  of  benevolence  embraced  also  the  persecuted  protes 
tants  of  all  nations. 

2.  To  a  project  springing  from  motives  so  noble  and 
disinterested,  the  people  and  the  government  extended 
their  encouragement  and  patronage.    A  patent  was  granted 
by  the  king,  conveying  to  twenty-one  trustees  the  territory 
now  constituting  the  state  of  GEORGIA,  which  was  to  bo 
apportioned  gratuitously  among  the  settlers ;  and  liberal 
donations  were  made   by  the  charitable,  to  defray  the 
expense  of  transporting  them  across  the  Atlantic,  and  of 
providing  for  their  support  the  first  season. 

3.  The  ronrprns  of  the  colony  were  managed  by  the 


106  GEORGIA. 

trustees,  wko  freely  devoted  much  of  their  time  to  the 
undertaking.  Among  other  regulations,  they  provided, 
that  the  lands  should  not  be  sold  nor  devised  by  the  own 
ers,  but  should  descend  to  the  male  children  only ;  they 
forbade  the  use  of  rum  in  the  colony,  and  strictly  prohibited 
the  importation  of  negroes.  But  none  of  these  regulations 
remained  long  in  force. 

4.  In  November,  1732,  one  hundred  and  thirteen  emi 
grants  embarked  for  Georgia,  at  the  head  of  whom  the 
trustees-had  placed  James  Oglethorpe,  a  zealous  and  active 
promoter  of  this  scheme  of  benevolence.     In  January,  they 
arrived  at  Charleston ;  and  the  Carolinians,  sensible  of 
the  advantage  of  having  a  barrier  between  them  and  the 
eouthern  Indians,  gave  the  adventurers  a  cordial  welcome. 
They  supplied  them  with  provisions,  and  with  boats  to 
convey  them  to  the  place  of  their  destination.     Yamacraw 
Muff,  since  called  Savannah,  was  selected  as  the  most 
eligible  place  for  a  settlement. 

5.  The  next  year,  five  or  six  hundred  poor  persons 
arrived,  and  to  each   a-  portion  of  the  wilderness  was 
assigned.     But  it  was  soon  found  that  these  emigrants, 
who  were  the  refuse  of  cities,  had  been  rendered  poor  by 
idleness,  and  irresolute  by  poverty,  were  not  fitted  to  fell 
the  mighty  groves  of  Georgia.     A  race  more  hardy  and  en 
terprising,  was  necessary.    The  trustees,  therefore,  offered 
to  receive,  also,  such  as  had  not,  by  persecution  or  poverty, 
been  rendered  objects  of  compassion,  and  to  grant  to  all, 
\vho  should  settle  in  the  colony,  fifty  acres  of  land.     In 
consequence  of  this  offer,  more  than  four  hundred  persons, 
from  Germany,  Scotland,  and  Switzerland,  arrived  in  the 
year  1735.     The  Germans  settled  at  Ebenezer,  the  Scotch 
at  New-Inverness,  now  Darien. 

C.  In  1736,  John  Wesley,  a  celebrated  Methodist,  made 
a  visit  to  Georgia,  for  the  purpose  of  preaching  to  the 
colonists,  and  converting  the  Indians.  Among  the  former, 
he  made  some  proselytes,  but  more  enemies.  He  was 
accused  of  diverting  the  people  from  labor,  of  fomenting 
divisions,  of  claiming  and  exercising  high  and  unwarranted 
ecclesiastical  authority.  His  conduct  towards  the  niece 
of  one  of  the  principal  settlers  was  highly  resented  by  her 
friends.  Thirteen  indictments,  for  alleged  offences,  were 
found  against  him ;  but  before  the  time  of  trial,  he  returned 
to  England,  and  there,  for  many  years,  pursued  a  successful 
and  distinguished  career  of  piety  and  usefulness. 

Two  years  afterwards,  George  Whitfield.  another 


GEORGIA.  107 

sad  more  celebrated  Methodist,  arrived  in  the  colony. 
He  had  already  made  himself  conspicuous  in  England,  by 
his  numerous  eccentricities,  his  ardent  piety,  his  extraor 
dinary  eloquence,  his  zeal  and  activity  in  propagating  his 
opinions.  He  came  to  Georgia  for  the  benevolent  purpose, 
of  establishing  an  orphan  house,  where  poor  children  might 
he  fed,  clothed,  and  educated  in  the  knowledge  of  Chris 
tianity.  In  prosecution  of  this  purpose,  he  often  crossed 
the  Atlantic,  and  traversed  Great  Britain  and  America, 
soliciting  aid  from  the  pious  and  charitable.  Wherever 
he  went, he  preached,  with  sincerity  and  fervor, his  peculiar 
doctrines,  making  proselytes  of  most  who  heard  him,  and 
founding  a  sect  which  has  since  become  numerous  and 
respectable.  His  orph^ii  house,  during  his  life,  did  not 
flourish,  and  after  his  aeath,  was  entirely  abandoned. 

8*  In  1740,  the  trustees  rendered  an  account  of  their 
administration.  At  that  time,  two  thousand  four  hundred 
and  ninety-eight  emigrants  had  arrived  in  the  colony.  Of 
these,  fifteen  hundred  and  twenty-one  were  indigent  Eng 
lishmen,  or  persecuted  Protestants.  The  benefactions, 
from  government  and  from  individuals,  had  been  nearly 
half  a  million  of  dollars ;  and  it  was  computed  that,  for 
<wery  person  transported  and  maintained  by  the  trustees, 
more  than  three  hundred  dollars  had  been  expended. 

9.  The  hope  which  the  trustees  had  cherished,  that  the 
colony,  planted  at  such  vast  expense,  would  be  prosperous, 
and  the  objects  of  their  benevolence  happy,  were  com 
pletely  disappointed.      Such  was  the  character  of  the. 
greater  part  of  the  settlers,  and   such   the  restrictions 
imposed,  that  the  plantations  languished  and  continued  to 
require  the  contributions  of  the  charitable. 

10.  War  having  been  declared  against  Spain,  Mr.  Ogle- 
thorpe  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  general  in  the  British 
army,  and  at  the  head  of  two  thousand  men,  partly  from 
Virginia  and  the  Carolinas,  undertook  an  expedition  against 
Florida.     He  took  two  Spanish  forts  and  besieged  St. 
Augustine ;  but  encountering  an  obstinate  resistance,  was 
compelled  to  return  unsuccessful  to  Georgia. 

11.  Two  years  afterwards  the  Spaniards,  in  retaliation, 
prepared  to  invade  Georgia ;  and  they  intended,  if  success 
ful  there,  to  subjugate  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia.     On 
receiving  information  of  their  approach,  general  Oglethorpa 
solicited  assistance  from  South-Carolina.     But  the  inhaiw 
Hants  of  that  colony,  entertaining  a  strong  prejudice  against 
him,  in  consequence  of  his  late  defeat,  and  temfie&  ty  thy 


108  GEORGIA. 

danger  which  threatened  themselves,  determined  to  pro 
vide  only  for  their  own  safety. 

12.  Meanwhile  general  Oglethorpe  made  preparations 
for  a  vigorous  defence.     He  assembled  seven  hundred 
men  exclusive  of  a  body  Indians,  fixed  his  head  quarters 
at  Frederica,  on  the  island  of  St.  Simon,  and  with  this 
small  band,  determined  to  encounter  whatever  force  might 
be  brought  against  him.     It  was  his  utmost  hope  that  he 
might  be  able  to  resist  the  enemy  until  a  reinforcement 
should  arrive  from  Carolina,  which  he  daily  and  anxiously 
expected. 

13.  On  the  last  of  June,  the  Spanish  fleet,  consisting  of 
thirty-two  sail,  and  having  on   board  more   than  three 
thousand  men,  came  to  anchor  ofL&t.  Simon's  bar.     Not 
withstanding  all  the  resistance  wmch  general  Oglethorpe 
could  oppose,  they  sailed  up  the  river  Alatamaha,  landed 
upon  the  island,  and  there  erected  fortifications. 

14.  General  Oglethorpe,  convinced  that  his  small  force, 
if  divided,  must   be  entirely  inefficient,   assembled  the 
whole  of  it  at  Frederica.      One  portion  he  employed  in 
strengthening    his   fortifications ;   the    Highlanders   and 
Indians,  ranging  night  and  day  through  the  woods,  often 
attacked  the  out-posts  of  the  enemy.     The  toil  of  the 
troops  was  incessant ;  and  the  long  delay  of  the  expected 
succors,  so  cruelly  withheld  by  South-Carolina,  caused 
the  most  gloomy  and  depressing  apprehensions. 

15.  Learning   that   the   Spanish  army   occupied  two 
distinct  positions,   Oglethorpe   conceived  the  project  of 
attacking  one  by  surprise.     He  selected  the  bravest  of  his 
little  army,  and  in  the  night  marched,  entirely  unobserved, 
to  within  two  miles  of  the  camp  which  he  intended  to  assail. 
Directing  his  troops  to  halt,  he  advanced,  at  the  head  of  a 
small  body,  to  reconnoitre  the  er?my.     While  thus  em 
ployed,  a  French  soldier  of  his  party,  firing  his  musket, 
deserted  to  the  Spaniards.     Discovery  destroying  all  hope 
of  success,  the  general  immediately  returned  to  Frederica. 
He  was  not  only  chagrined  at  this  occurrence,  but  appre 
hended  instant  danger  from  the   disclosure  \vhich  the 
deserter  would  doubtless  make  of  his  weakness. 

16.  In  this  embarrassment,  he  devised  an  expedient 
which  was  attended  with  the  most  happy  success.     He 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  deserter,  instructing  him  to  acquaint 
the  Spaniards  with  the  defenceless  state  of  Frederica ;  to 
urge  them  to  attack  the  place,  and  if  he  could  not  succeed, 
to  persuade  them  to  remain  three  dayslonger  on  the  island: 


GEORGIA,  igD 

for  within,  that  time,  according  to  late  advices  from  Caro 
lina,  he  should  receive  a  reinforcement  of  two  thousand 
men  and  six  ships  of  war.  He  cautioned  him  against 
dropping  any  hint  of  the  attack  meditated,  by  admiral 
Vernon,  upon  St.  Augustine,  and  assured  him  that  the 
reward  for  his  services  should  be  ample. 

17.  For  a  small  bribe,  a  soldier  wrho  had  been  made 
prisoner  in  one  of  the  numerous  skirmishes,  engaged  to 
deliver  this  letter  to  the  deserter,  and  was  then  set  at 
liberty.    As  was  foreseen,  he  carried  it  directly  to  the 
Spanish  general,  who  immediately  suspected  the  deserter 
to  be  a  spy  from  the  English  camp,  and  ordered,  him-  to 
be  put  in  irons.    But  although  his  suspicions  were  awa 
kened,  he  was  yet  uncertain  whether  the  whole  might  not 
be  a  stratagem  of  his  antagonist. 

18.  While  hesitating  what  to  believe,  three  small  vessels 
of  war  appeared  off  the  coast.     Supposing  they  brought 
the  reinforcements  alluded  to  in  the  letter  to  the  deserter, 
he  hesitated  no  longer,  but  determined  to  make  a  vigorous 
attack  upon  the  English,   before  these   reinforcements 
could  arrive  and  be  brought  into  action. 

19.  General  Oglethorpe,  by  mere  accident,  obtained 
information  of  their  design.     A  small  party  was  instantly 
placed  in  ambuscade,  the  Spaniards  advanced  near  them, 
halted  to  rest,  and  laid  aside  their  arms.     A  sudden  and 
well  directed  fire,  killing  many,  threw  the  enemy  into 
confusion.     After  a  few  more  discharges,  they  fled  to  their 
fortifications,  which  they  demolished,  and,  hastily  em 
barking,  made  every  possible  effort  to  escape  from  the 
reinforcements  that  were  supposed  to  be  approaching. 

20.  Thus  was  Georgia,  with  trifling  loss,  delivered  from 
the  most  imminent  danger.     General  Oglethorpe  not  only 
retrieved,  but  exalted  his  reputation.     From  the  Carolini 
ans,  grateful  for  their  preservation,  and  from  the  governors 
of  most  of  the  northern  colonies,  he  received  cordial  con 
gratulations  upon  his  address  and  good  fortune.     And  so 
mortified  were  the  Spaniards  at  the  result  of  the  expedition, 
that  the  commander,  on  his  return,  \vas  arrested,  tried,  and 
cashiered  for  misconduct. 

21.  But  the  prosperity  of  the  colony  was  retarded  by 
these  disturbances.      For  ten  years  longer,  it  remained 
under  the  management  of  the  trustees,  who,  embarrassing 
it  by  too  much  regulation,  discouraged  the  emigrants  and 
checked  its  growth.     At  length,  disappointed  in  their 
hopes,  and  wearied  by  complaints,  they  surrendered  their 

K 


He  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.          [175-i* 

charter  to  the  crown ;  and,  in  1754,  a  royal  government 
was  established  over  the  colony. 

22.  New  regulations  being  adopted,  Georgia  began  to 
flourish.  Among  her  governors,  James  Wright  deserves 
honorable  notice  for  his  wisdom  in  discerning,  and  his 
zeal  in  pursuing,  her  true  interests.  The  cultivation  of 
rice  and  indigo  was  prosecuted  with  augmented  industry, 
skill,  and  profit ;  and  in  every  succeeding  year,  an  increased 
amount  of  these  staple  commodities  was  exported  to  the 
mother  country.  The  Florida  Indians  were  sometimes 
troublesome,  but  were  as  often  chastised  and  compelled 
to  sue  for  peace. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754— 6& 

THE  treaty  of  Aix  la  Chapelle  concluded  in  1748,  between 
England  and  France,  restored  tranquillity  to  America.  At 
this  period,  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  thirteen 
colonies  was  about  one  million  one  hundred  thousand. 
The  English  settlements  had  not  advanced  far  into  the 
wilderness,  but  extended  along  the  ocean  from  New 
foundland  to  Florida.  Those  of  the  French,  at  the  north, 
reached  from  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence  to  Montreal ; 
and  they  had  built  forts  and  trading  houses  on  lake  On 
tario.  At  the  south,  they  had  planted  New-Orleans,  and 
having  discovered  the  river  Mississippi,  they  claimed  the 
fertile  and  delightful  valley  through  which  it  runs,  and 
the  whole  country  watered  by  its  tributary  streams. 

2.  They  at  length  determined  to  connect  their  northern 
and  southern  settlement  s  by  a  chain  of  posts  extending 
along  the  frontiers  of  the  English,  from  Lake  Ontario  to 
the  Ohio,  and  down  that  river  and  the  Mississippi  to  New- 
Orleans.    While  they  were  intent  on  this  project,  a  com 
pany  of  English  traders,  having  obtained  from  the  king  a 
grant  of  land,  established  trading  houses  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio. 

3.  The  French  seized  some  of  these  traders  and  con 
veyed  them  prisoners  to  Canada.  The  company  complained 
to  governor  Dinwiddie,  of  Virginia.  The  land  having  been 
granted  as  a  part  of  that  colony,  he  determined  to  send  a 
messenger  to  the  commander  of  the  French  forces  on  the 


1754.]         FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754— 6S.  IH 

Ohio,  and  require  him  to  withdraw  his  troops.  For  this 
mission  he  selected  George  Washington,  who  was  then 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  who  afterwards  hecame 
illustrious  in  the  annals  of  his  country. 

4.  To  the  letter  of  Dinwiddie,  the  French  commander 
replied,  that  he  had  taken  possession  of  the  country  in 
pursuance  of  directions  from  his  general,  then  in  Canada, 
to  whom  he  would  transmit  the  letter,  and  whose  orders 
he  should  implicitly  obey.  This  reply  not  being  satisfactory 
to  the  governor,  preparations  were  made  in  Virginia,  to 
maintain  by  force  the  rights  of  the  British  crown.  Troops, 
constituting  a  regiment,  were  raised,  the  command  of 
whom,  on  the  death  of  the  colonel  first  appointed,  was 
given  to  Mr.  Washington. 

5.  At  the  head  of  about  four  hundred  men,  he  advanced, 
early  in  the  spring,  into  the  territory  in  dispute.     On  his 
route,  he  met,  attacked,  and  defeated,  a  French  party 
under  the  command  of  one  Dijonville,  who  approached  him 
in  a  manner  indicating  hostile  intentions.     He  proceeded 
towards  fort  Du  Quesne,  situated  at  the  junction  of  the- 
Alleghany  and  Monongahela.     From  this  fort,  De  Villier, 
at  the  head  of  nine  hundred  men,  marched  out  to  attack  him. 

6.  Hearing  of  the    approach   of  this    party,   colonel 
Washington  halted,  and  hastily  erected  some  imperfect 
works,  by  means  of  which  he  hoped  to  prolong  his  defence 
until  the   arrival  of  reinforcements.      He  was   closely 
besieged  by  De  Villier,  but  making  an  obstinate  defence, 
was  offered  the   most  honorable  terms  of  capitulation. 
These  he  accepted,  and  returned  with  his  regiment  to 
Virginia. 

7.  In  this  year,  delegates  from  seven  of  the  colonies 
met  at  Albany,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  conference 
with  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians.     This  business  being 
finished,  a  confederation  of  the  colonies  was  proposed  by 

'  the  delegates  from  Massachusetts.  A  "  Plan  of  Union" 
was  agreed  upon,  to  be  submitted  to  the  colonial  legisla 
tures,  and  to  parliament,  for  their  adoption. 

8.  This   plan  provided  that   delegates  to   a   General 
Council  should  be  chosen  by  the  representatives  of  trim 
people,  in  the  colonial  assemblies,  and  that  a  president- 
general  should  be  appointed  by  the  crown.     This  council 
was  to  possess  the  control  of  the  military  force  of  the 
confederacy,  and  the  power  to  concert  all  measures  for  the 

ommon  protection  and  safety.  The  president-general  was 
•.ive  a  negative  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  delegates. 


113  FRENCH  WAft  OF  1754—63.          [1755. 

9.  This  plan  was  rejected  by  parliament,  because  the 
delegates  were  to  be  chosen  by  the  representatives  of  the 
people.  It  was  rejected  by  the  colonies,  because  it  placed 
too  much  power  in  the  hands  of  the  king.     In  England, 
apprehensions  were  already  entertained  of  the  growing 
importance  of  the  colonial  assemblies.     In  America,  the 
people  began,  perhaps  unconsciously,  to  be  actuated  by 
the  spirit  of  independence. 

10.  The  conduct  of  the  French,  on  the  Ohio,  convinced 
the  cabinet  of  London  that  their  claim  to  the  country, 
through  which  that  river  flows,  must  be  relinquished,  or 
maintained  by  the  sword.     They  did  not  hesitate  which 
alternative  to  choose.     Early  in  the  spring  of  1755,  they 
despatched  general  Braddock  to  America,  with  a  respecta 
ble  force,  to  expel  the  French,  and  keep  possession  of  the 
territory.     And  preparations  having  been  made  by  France 
to  despatch  a  reinforcement  to  her  armies  in  Canada, 
admiral  Boscawen  was  ordered  to  endeavour  to  intercept 
ihe  French  fleet  before  it  should  enter  the  gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence. 

11.  In  April,  general  Braddock  met  the  governors  of 
the  several  provinces,  to  confer  upon  the  plan  of  the 
ensuing  campaign.  Three  expeditions  were  resolved  upon : 
one  against   Du   Quesne,  to  be  commanded  by  general 
Braddock ;  one  against  forts  Niagara  and  Frontinac,  to  be 
commanded  by  governor  Shirley ;  and  one  against  Crown 
'Point,  to  be  commanded  by  general  Johnson.     The  last 
mentioned  post  was  the  nearest  to  New-England  of  any 
in  the  possession  of  the  enemy ;  and  from  it  almost  all  the 
Indian  parties,  which  had,  in  the  late  wars,  so  cruelly 
harassed  the  northern  colonies,  were  despatched  and  sup 
ported.  The  expedition  against  it  was  proposed  and  urged 
by  Massachusetts,  and  was  to  be  executed  by  colonial 
iroops,  raised  in  New-England  and  New- York. 

12.  While  preparations  were  making  for  these  expedi 
tions,  another,  which  had  been  previously  concerted,  was 
carried  on  against  the  French  forces   in  Nova  Scotia. 
This  province  was  settled  by  the  French,  but  was  ceded 
to  the  English  by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht.     Its  boundaries 
not  having  been  defined,  the  French  continued  to  occupy 
a  portion  of  the  territory  claimed  by  the  English,  and  had 
built  forts  for  their  defence.     To  gain  possession  of  these 
was  the  object  of  the  expedition. 

13.  About  two  thousand  militia,  commanded  by  colonel 
Winslow,  embarked  at  Boston;  and  being  joined  on  their 


1755.]         FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.  ii;i 

passage  by  three  hundred  regulars,  arrived,  in  April,  at 
the  place  of  destination.  The  forts  were  invested ;  tho 
resistance  made  was  trifling  and  ineffectual ;  and  in  a  short 
time  the  English  gained  entire  possession  of  the  province, 
according  to  their  own  definition  of  its  boundaries.  Threo 
only  of  therr  men  were  killed. 

14.  The  preparations  of  general  Braddock,  in  Virginia, 
had  proceeded  slowly.     It  had  been  found  extremely  dif 
ficult  to  procure  horses,  wagons,  and  provisions.     Impa 
tient  of  delay,,  he  determined  to   set  out   with  twelve* 
Imndred.  men,  selected  from  the  different  corps,  and  to 
proceed,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  towards  fort  Du  Quesne. 
The  residue  of  the  army,  and  the  heavy  baggage,  were  left 
under  the  command  of  colonel  Dunbar,  whd  was  directed 
to  follow  as  soon  as  the  preparations  were  completed. 

15.  Braddock  had  been  educated  in  the  English  army; 
and  in  the  science  of  war,  as  then  taught  in  Europe,  he 
deserved  and  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  more  than  ordinary 
skill.     Of  this  reputation  he  was  vain,  and  disdained  to 
consider  that  his  skill  was  totally  inapplicable  to  the  mode 
of  warfare  practised  in  the  forests  of  America.    Before  ho 
left  England,  he  was  repeatedly  admonished  to  beware  of 
a  surprise  ;  and  on  his  march  through  the  wilderness,  the 
provincial  officers  frequently  entreated  him  to  scour  the  sur 
rounding  thickets.     But  he  held  these  officers  and  the  ene 
my  in  too  much  contempt  to  listen  to  this  salutary  counsel. 

1C.  On  approaching  fort  Du  Quesne,  colonel  Washing 
ton,  who  accompanied  him  as  his  aid,  made  a  last  attempt 
to  induce  him  to  change  his  order  of  march.  He  explained 
the  Indian  mode  of  warfare;  represented  his  danger;  and 
offered  to  take  command  of  the  provincials  and  place  him 
self  in  advance  of  the  army.  This  offer  was  declined. 
The  general  proceeded,  confident  of  the  propriety  of  his 
conduct ;  the  provincials  followed,  trembling  for  the  con 
sequences. 

17.  On  the  ninth  of  July,  the  army  crossed  the  Monon- 
gahela,  within  a^few  miles  of  Du  Quesne.  Their  route 
led  through  a  defile,  which  they  had  nearly  passed,  when 
a  tremendous  yell  and  instantaneous  discharge  of  fire  arms 
suddenly  burst  upon  them  from  an  invisible  foe.  The  van 
was  thrown  into  confusion.  The  general  led  the  main 
body  to  its  support.  For  a  moment,  ord^r  was  restored, 
and  a  short  cessation  of  the  enemy's  fire,  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  their  commander,  seemed  to  mdicate  that  all 
^r. 

K  3 


114  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754— 63.          [KM. 

18.  But  the  attack  was  soon  renewed  with  increased 
jury.     Concealed  behind  trees,  logs,  and  rocks,  the  Indians 
poured  upon  the  troops  a  deadly  and  incessant  fire.   Officers 
and  men  fell  thickly  around,  and  the  survivers  knew  not 
where  to  direct  their  aim  to  revenge  their  slaughtered 
comrades.     The  whole  body  was  again  thrown  into  con 
fusion.     The  general,  obstinate  arid  courageous,  refused 
to  retreat,  but  bent  his  whole  efforts  to  restore  and  main 
tain  order.     He  persisted  in  these  efforts,  until  five  horses 
had  been  shot  under  him,  and  every  one  of  his  officers  on 
horseback,  except  colonel  Washington,  was  either  killed 
or  wounded. 

19.  The  general  at  length  fell,  and  the  rout  became 
universal.     The  troops  fled  precipitately  until  they  met 
the  division  under  Dunbar,  then  sixty  miles  in  the  rear. 
To  this  body  the  same  panic  was  communicated.     Turn 
ing  about,  they  fled  with  the  rest,  and  although  no  enemy 
had  been  seen  during  the  engagement,  nor  afterwards,  yet 
the  army  continued  retreating  until  it  reached  fort  Cum 
berland,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  the  place  of 
action.     There  they  remained  but  a  short  time.    With 
the  remnant  of  the  army,  amounting  to  fifteen  hundred 
men,  colonel  Dunbar,  upon  whom,  on  the  death  of  Brad- 
dock,  the  command  devolved,  marched  to  Philadelphia, 
leaving  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  destitute 
of  defence. 

20.  The  provincial  troops,  whom  Braddock  had  so  much 
despised,  displayed,  during  the  battle,  the  utmost  calmness 
and  courage.     Though  placed  in  the  rear,  they  alone,  led 
on  by  Washington,  advanced  against  the  Indians  and 
covered  the  retreat.     Had  they  been  permitted  to  fight  in 
their  own  way,  they  could  easily  have  defeated  the  enemy. 
In  this  battle,  sixty-four,  out  of  eighty-five  officers,  were 
either  killed  or  wounded,  and  at  least  one  half  of  the 
privates. 

21.  The  two  northern  expeditions,  though  not  so  disas 
trous,  were  both  unsuccessful.     General  Shirley,  who  had 
been  appointed  to  command  that  against  Niagara,  met  with 
so  many  delays  that  he  did  not  reach  Oswego  until  late  in 
August.      While   embarking   there  to   proceed   against 
Niagara,  the  autumnal  rains  began,  his  troops  became 
discouraged,  his  Indian  allies  deserted  him,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  relinquish  his  design. 

22.  The  forces  destined  to  attack  Crown  Point,  and  the 
requisite  military  stores,  could  not  be  collected  at  Albany 


1755.J         I'REXCII  WAR  OF  1754—63.  115 

until  the  last  of  August.  Thence  the  army,  under  the 
command  of  general  Johnson,  proceeded  to  the  south  end 
of  Lake  George,  on  their  way  to  the  place  of  destination. 
There  he  learned,  that  the  armament,  fitted  out  in  the 
ports  of  France,  eluding  the  English  squadron,  had  arrived 
ut  Quebec,  and  that  baron  Dieskau,  commander  of  the 
French  forces,  was  advancing  with  an  army  towards  the 
t  erritories  of  the  English.  He  halted,  erected  slight  breast 
works,  and  detached  colonel  Williams  with  a  thousand 
men,  to  impede  the  progress  of  the  enemy. 

23.  Dieskau,  who  was  near,  was  immediately  informed 
of  the  approach  of  this  detachment.    Without  losing  a 
moment,  he  directed  his  troops  to  conceal  themselves. 
The  English  advanced  into  the  midst  of  their  enemy,  and, 
from  every  quarter,  received,  at  the  same  moment,  a  sudden 
and  unexpected  fire.     Their  leader  fell,  and  the  men  fled, 
in  disorder,  to  the  camp. 

24.  They  were  followed  closely  by  the  enemy,  who 
approached  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the 
breastwork :  and,  had  they  made  an  immediate  assault, 
would  probably,  such  was  the  panic  of  the  English,  have 
been  successful.     But  here  they  halted,  to  make  disposi 
tions  for  a  regular  attack.     The  Indians  and  Canadians 
were  despatched  to  the  flanks,  and  the  regular  troops 
began  the  attack  with  firing,  by  platoons,  at  the  centre. 
Their  fire  was  ineffectual,  and  the  provincials  gradually 
resumed  their  courage. 

25.  A  few  discharges  of  the  artillery  drove  the  Cana 
dians  and  Indians  to  the  swamps.     The  regulars,  although 
deserted  by  the  auxiliaries,  maintained  the  conflict  for 
more  than  an  hour,  with  much  steadiness  and  resolution. 
Dieskau,  convinced  that  all  his  efforts  must  be  unavailing, 
then  gave  orders  to  retreat.     This  produced  some  con 
fusion,  which,  being  perceived  by  the  provincials,  they 
simultaneously,  and  without  orders  or  concert,  leaped  over 
the  intrenchments,  fell  upon  the  French  soldiers,  and 
killed,  captured,  or   dispersed  them.      The   baron  was 
wounded  and  made  prisoner. 

26.  The  next  day,  colonel  Blanchard,  who  commanded 
at  fort  Edward,  despatched  captain  Folsom,  of  New- 
Hampshire,  with  two  hundred  men,  to  the  assistance  of 
general  Johnson.     On  his  way,  he  discovered  between 
three  and  four  hundred  of  the  enemy  seated  around  a  pond, 
ijot  far  from  the  place  where  colonel  Williams  had  been 
defeated.    Notwithstanding  his  inferiority  in  rrnmbers.  he 


116  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.         [1756. 

Determined  to  attack  them.  So  impetuous  was  the  onset, 
that,  after  a  sharp  conflict,  the  enemy  fled.  In  the  several 
engagements,  the  provincials  lost  about  two  hundred  men; 
the  enemy  upwards  of  seven  hundred. 

27.  General  Johnson,  though  strongly  importuned  by  the 
government  of  Massachusetts,  refused  to  proceed  upon  his 
expedition,  which  was  abandoned,  and  most,  of  his  troops 
returned  to  their  respective  colonies.     Thus  ended  the 
campaign  of  1755.     It  opened  with  the  brightest  prospects, 
immense  preparations  had  been  made,  yet  not  one  of  the 
objects  of  the  three  great  expeditions  had  been  attained. 

28.  During  the  fall  and  winter,  the  southern  colonies 
were  ravaged,  and  the  usual  barbarities  perpetrated  upon, 
t  he  frontier  inhabitants,  by  the  savages,  who,  on  the  defeat 
of  Braddock,  and  the  retreat  of  his  army,  saw  nothing  to 
restrain  their  fury.     In  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  dis 
putes  existed  between  the  governors  and  legislatures, 
which  prevented  all  attention  to  the  means  of  defence. 
Scarcely  a  post  was  maintained,  or  a  soldier  employed  in 
their  service. 

29.  The  colonies,  far  from  being  discouraged  by  the 
misfortunes  of  the  last  campaign,  determined  to  renew  and 
increase  their  exertions.     General  Shirley,  to  whom  the 
superintendence  of  all  the  military  operations  had  been 
confided,  assembled  a  council  of  war  at  New- York,  to 
concert  a  plan  for  the  ensuing  year.     He  proposed  that 
expeditions   should  be  carried  on  against   Du  Quesne, 
Niagara,  and  Crown  Point,  and  .that  a  body  of  troops 
should  be  sent,  by  the  way  of  the  rivers  Kennebec  and 
C 'haudiere,  to  alarm  the  French  for  the  safety  of  Quebec. 
This  plan  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  council. 

30.  Shirley,  on  the  last  of  January,  returned  to  Boston, 
to  meet  the  assembly  of  Massachusetts,  of  which  colony 
he  was  governor.     He  endeavored  to  persuade  them  to 
concur  in\he  measures  proposed  ;  but,  disgusted  with  the 
proceedings  of  the  last  campaign,  and  especially  at  general 
Johnson's  neglecting  to  pursue  his  advantages,  they  were 
unwilling  to  engage  in  offensive  operations,  unless  the 
command  of  their  forces  should  be  given  to  general  Win- 
slow,  who  had  acquired  popularity  by  his  success  in  Nova 
Scotia.     Their  wishes  were  complied  with,  and  their 
concurrence  was  then  granted. 

31.  In  April,  news  arrived  from  Great  Britain,  that  the 
conduct  of  general  Johnson,  instead  of  being  censured, 
-VMS  considered  highly  meritorious:  that,  as  a  reward  for 


1756.]          FRENCH  WAR  OF  1751—62.  H7 

his  success,  the  king  had  conferred  upon  him  the  title  of 
baronet,  and  parliament  a  grant  of  five  thousand  pounds 
sterling ;  that  his  majesty  disapproved  of  the  conduct  of 
Shirley,  and  had  determined  to  remove  him  from  command. 

32.  This  information  not  being  official,  general  Shirley 
continued  his  preparations  with  his  usual  activity  and  zeal. 
While  engaged  in  collecting,  at  Albany,  the  troops  from 
t  he  different  colonies,  general  Webb  brought  from  England 
official  information  of  his  removal.     On  the  25th  of  June, 
general  Abercrombie  arrived,  and  took  command  of  the 
army.     It  now  consisted  of  about  twelve  thousand  men, 
and  was  more  numerous  and  better  prepared  for  the  field 
than  any  army  that  had  ever  been  assembled  in  America. 

33.  Singular  as  it  may  appear,  while  this  sanguinary 
war  raged  in  America,  the  intercourse  between  the  two 
nations  in  Europe,  not  only  continued  uninterrupted,  Irut 
seemed  more  than  usually  friendly.     This  unnatural  state 
of  things  could  not  long  continue.     Great  Britain  declared 
war  in  May,  and  France  in  June. 

^34.  The  change  of  commanders  delayed  the  operations 
of  the  English  army.  The  French  were  active ;  and  on 
the  12th  of  July,  general  Abercrombie  received  intelligence 
that  they  meditated  an  attack  upon  Oswego,  a  post  of  the 
utmost  importance.  General  Webb  was  ordered  to  pre 
pare  to  march  with  a  regiment  for  the  defence  of  that  place. 
In  the  mean  time,  lord  London,  who  had  been  appointed 
Commander-in-chief  over  all  the  British  forces  in  the 
colonies,  arrived  in  America. 

35.  Amidst  the  ceremonies  which  followed,  the  affairs 
of  the  war  were  forgotten.     General  Webb  did  not  begin 
his  march  until  the  12th  of  August.     Before  he  had  pro 
ceeded  far,  he  learned  that  Oswego  was  actually  besieged 
by  a  large  army  of  French  and  Indians.     Alarmed  for  his 
own  safety,  he  proceeded  no  farther,  but  employed  his 
troops  in  erecting  fortifications  for  their  defence. 

36.  General  Montcalm,  the  commander  of  the  French 
troops  in  Canada,  began  the  siege  of  Oswego  on  the  12th 
of  August.     On  the  14th,  the  English  commander  having 
been  killed,  terms  of  surrender  \vere  proposed  by  the  gar 
rison,  and  were  agreed  to.     These  terms  were  shamefully 
violated.     Several  of  the  British  officers  and  soldiers  were 
insulted,  robbed,  and  massacred  by  the  Indians.     Most  of 
the  sick  were  scalped  in  the  hospitals,  and  the  French 
general  delivered  twenty  of  the  garrison  to  the  savages, 
that  .being  the  number  they  had  Jost  during  the  siege. 


118  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.         [175?. 

Those  unhappy  wretches  were,  doubtless,  according  to 
the  Indian  custom,  tortured  and  burnt. 

37.  General  Webb  was  permitted  to  retreat,  unmolested, 
to  Albany.     Lord  Loudon  pretended  it  was  now  too  late 
in  the  season  to  attempt  any  thing  farther,  though  the 
troops  under  general  Winslow  were  within  a  few  days 
march  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  were  suffi 
cient  in  number  to  justify  an  attack  upon  those  places. 
He  devoted  the  remainder  of  the  season  to  making  pre 
parations  for  an  early  and  vigorous  campaign  the  ensuing 
year. 

38.  This  spring  had  opened  with  still  more  brilliant 
prospects  than  the  last;  and  the  season  closed  without 
the  occurrence  of  a  single  event  that  was  honorable  to 
the  British  arms,  or  advantageous  to  the  colonies.     This 
want  of  success  was  justly  attributed  to  the  removal  of 
the  provincial  officers,  who  were  well  acquainted  with  the 
theatre  of  operations,  but  whom  the  ministry,  desirous 
of  checking  the  growth  of  talents  in  the  colonies,  were 
unwilling  to  employ.   Yet  the  several  assemblies,  though 
they  saw  themselves  thus   slighted,   and  their  money 
annually  squandered,  made  all  the  preparations  that  wrere 
required  of  them  for  the  next  campaign. 

39.  The  reduction  of   Louisburgh  was  the  object  to 
\vhich  the  ministry  directed  the  attention  of  lord  Loudon. 
In  the  spring  of  1757,  he  sailed  from  New- York,  with 
6000  men,  and,  at  Halifax,  met  admiral  Holbourn,  with 
transports  containing  an  equal  number  of  troops,  and  a 
naval  force  consisting  of  fifteen  ships  of  the  line.    When 
about  to  proceed  to  their  place  of  destination,  intelligence 
arrived  that  the  garrison  at  Louisburgh  had  received  a 
large  reinforcement,  and  expected  and  desired  a  visit  from 
the  English.    Disheartened  by  this  intelligence,  the  gen 
eral  and  admiral  abandoned  the  expedition. 

40.  WThile  the  English  commanders  were  thus  irreso 
lute  and  idle,  the  French  were  enterprising  and  active. 
In  March,  general  Montcalm  made  an  attempt  to  surprise 
fort  William  Henry,  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  George, 
but  was  defeated  by  the  vigilance  and  bravery  of  the 
garrison.     He  returned  to  Crown  Point,  leaving  a  party 
of  troops  at  Ticonderoga.     Against  this  post,  near  four 
hundred  men  were  sent  from  the  fort,  under  the  command 
f>f  colonel  Parker. 

41.  The  colonel  was  deceived  in  his  intelligence,  de- 
cored  into  an  ambuscade,  and  attacked  with  such  fury, 


1757.]         FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.  119* 

that  but  two  officers  and  seventy  privates  escaped.  En 
couraged  by  this  success,  Montcalm  determined  to  return 
and  besiege  fort  William  Henry.  For  this  purpose,  he 
assembled  an  army  consisting  of  regular  troops,  Canadians 
and  Indians,  and  amounting  to  near  ten  thousand  men. 

42.  Major  Putnam,  a  brave  and  active  partizan,  obtained 
information  of  the  purposes  of  Montcalm,  which  he  com 
municated  to  general  Webb,  who,  in  the  absence  of  lord 
Loudon,  commanded  the  British  troops  in  that  quarter. 
The  general  enjoined  silence  upon  Putnam,  and  adopted 
no  other  measure,  on  receiving  the  intelligence,  than 
sending  colonel  Monro  to  take  command  of  the  fort. 

43.  The  day  after  this  officer,  ignorant  of  what  was 
to  happen,  had  arrived  at  his  post,  the   lake  appeared 
covered  with  boats,  which  swiftly  approached  the  shore. 
Montcalm,  with  but  little  opposition,  effected  a  landing, 
and  immediately  began  the  siege.  The  garrison,  consisting 
of  two  thousand  five  hundred  men,  animated  by  the  ex 
pectation  of  relief,  made  a  gallant  defence. 

44.  General  Webb  had  an  army  at  fort  Edward,  of 
more  than  four  thousand  men,  and  it  was  in  his  power  to 
call  in  a  large  number  of  provincial  troops  from  New- 
York  and  New-England.     To  him  colonel  Monro  sent 
repeated  and  pressing  solicitations  for  immediate  succor. 
These  he  disregarded,  seeming  entirely  indifferent  to  the 
distressing  situation  of  his  fellow  soldiers. 

45.  At  length,  on  the  ninth  day  of  the  siege,  in  com 
pliance  with  the   entreaties   of  the   friends  of  Monro, 
general  Webb  despatched  Sir  William  Johnson,  with  a 
body  of  men,  to  his  relief.     They  had  not  proceeded 
three  miles,  when  the  order  was  countermanded.     Webb 
then  wrote  to  Monro  that  he  could  afford  him  no  assis 
tance,  and  advised  him  to  surrender  on  the  best  terms 
that  he  could  obtain. 

46.  This  letter  was  intercepted  by  Montcalm,  wljo,  in 
a  conference  which  he  procured,  handed  it  himself  to  the 
commander  of  the  fort.    All  hope  of  relief  being  ex 
tinguished,  articles  of  capitulation  were  agreed  to.    In 
these  it  was  expressly  stipulated  by  Montcalm,  that  the 
prisoners  should  be  protected  from  the  savages,  by  a  guard, 
and  that  the  sick  and  wounded  should  be  treated  with 
humanity. 

47.  But  the  next  morning,  a  great  number  of  Indians, 
having  been  permitted  to  enter  the  lines,  began  to  plunder™ 
Meeting  with  no  opposition,  they  fell  upon  the  sick  anrf 


120  11IENCH  WAR  OF  175-1—6;}.' 

Bounded,  whom  they  immediately  massacred.  This  ex 
cited  their  appetite  for  carnage.  The  defenceless  troops 
were  surrounded  and  attacked  with  fiend-like  fury.  Monro, 
hastening  to  Montcalm,  implored  him  to  provide  the 
stipulated  guard. 

48.  His  entreaties  were  ineffectual,  and  the  massacro 
proceeded.    All  was  turbulence  and  horror.     On  every 
side,  savages  were  butchering  and  scalping  their  wretched 
victims.     Their  hideous  yells,  the  groans  of  the  dying, 
and  the  frantic   shrieks  of  others,  shrinking  from  the 
uplifted  tomahawk,  were  heard  by  the  French  unmoved. 
The  fury  of  the  savages  were  permitted  to  rage  without 
restraint,  until  a  large  number  were  killed,  or  hurried 
captives  into  the  wilderness. 

49.  The  day  after  this  awful  tragedy,  major  Putnam 
was  sent,  with  his  rangers,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the 
enemy.     When  he  came  to  the  shore  of  the  lake,  their 
rear  was  hardly  beyond  the  reach  of  musket  shot.     The 
prospect  was  shocking  and  horrid.     The  fort  was  demo 
lished.     The  barracks  and  buildings  were  yet  burning. 
Innumerable  fragments  of  human  carcases  still  broiled  in 
the  decaying  tires.  Dead  bodies,  mangled  with  tomahawks 
and  scalping  knives,  in  all  the  wantonness  of  Indian  bar 
barity,  were  every  where  scattered  around. 

50.  General  Webb,  apprehensive  of  an   attack  upon 
himself,  sent  expresses  to  the  provinces  for  reinforce 
ments.  They  were  raised  and  despatched  with  expedition ; 
but  as  Montcalm  returned  to  Ticonderoga,-  they  were  kept 
in  service  but  a  few  weeks.    And  thus  ended  the  third 
campaign  in  America. 

51.  These  continual  disasters  resulted  from  folly  and 
mismanagement,  rather  than  from  want  of  means  an;l 
military  strength.     The  British  nation  was  alarmed  and 
indignant,  and  the  king  found  it  necessary  to  change  his 
councils.     At  the  head  of  tho  new  ministry,  he  placed 
the  celebrated  William  Pitt,  who  rose,  by  the  force  of 
his  talents  alone,  from  the  humble  post  of  ensign  in  t!w 
guards,  to  the  control  of  the  destinies  of  a  mighty  empire. 
Public  confidence  revived,  and  the  nation  seemed  inspired 
with  new  life  and  vigor. 

52.  For  the  next  campaign,  the  ministry  determine'!  v 
upon  three  expeditions;   one  of  twelve   thousand  men 
against   Louisburgh ;   ono  of   sixteen   thousand   against 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  and  one  of  eight  thousand 
gainst  fort  Du  Quesne.     Tho  colon  "IPS  were  called  upo'> 


1758.]         FRENCH  WAR  OF  175*-C3.  121 

to  render  all  the  assistance  in  their  power.  Lord  London 
having  been  recalled,  the  command  of  the  expedition 
against  Louisburgh  was  given  to  general  Amherst,  under 
whom  general  Wolfe  served  as  a  brigadier.  The  place 
was  invested  on  the  12th  of  June.  Amherst  made  his 
approaches  with  much  circumspection ;  and,  without  any 
memorable  incident,  the  siege  terminated,  on  the  26th 
of  July,  by  the  surrender  of  the  place.  Whenever  an 
opportunity  occurred,  general  Wolf,  who  was  then  youngr 
displayed  all  that  fire,  impetuosity,  and  discretion,  which 
afterwards  immortalized  his  name. 

53.  The  expedition  against   Ticonderoga,  was  com 
manded  by  general  Abercrombie.    He  was  accompanied 
by  Lord  Howe,  whose  military  talents  and  amiable  virtues 
made  him  the  darling  of  the  soldiery.  This  army  consisted 
of  seven  thousand  regular  troops,  and  ten  thousand  pro 
vincials.      When  approaching  the  fort,  a  skirmish  took 
place  with  a  small  party  of  the  enemy,  in  which  lord 
Howe  was  killed  at  the  first  fire.     On  seeing  him  fall,  tho 
troops  moved  forward  with  an  animated  determination  to 
avenge  his  death.   Three  hundred  of  the  enemy  were  killed 
on  the  spot,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  made  prisoners. 

54.  The  ardor  of  his  men,  and  the  intelligence  gained 
from  the  prisoners,  induced  general  Abercrombie  to  make 
an  assault  upon  the  works.    It  was  received  with  un 
daunted  bravery,  and  was  persevered  in  with   singular 
obstinacy.    For  four  hours,  the  troops  remained  before 
the  walls,  attempting  to  scale  them,  and  exposed  to  a 
destructive  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery.     The  genera], 
despairing  of  success,  then  directed  a  retreat.    Near  two 
thousand  of  the  assailants  were  killed  or  wounded.     Tho 
loss  of  the  French  was  not  great,  and  most  of  the  killed 
were  shot  through  the  head,  the  other  parts  of  their 
bodies  being  protected  by  their  works. 

55.  After  this  bloody  repulse,  Abercrombie  despatched 
colonel   Bradstreet,  with   three   thousand  men,   mostly 
provincials,  against  fort  Frontenac,  which  was  situated 
on  Lake  Ontario,  and  contained  a  large  quantity  of  mer 
chandise,  provisions,  and  military  stores.     It  fell  an  easy 
conquest,  and  the  loss  was  severely  felt  by  the  French. 
The  western  Indians,  not  receiving  their  usual  supply  of 
merchandise,  relaxed  in  their  exertions  ;  and  the  troops 
at  Du  Quesne  suffered  from  the  want  of  the  provisions  and 
military  stores.     These  circumstances  contributed  essen 
tially  to  facilitate  the  operations  of  the  third  expedition.   , 


122  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.         [1759, 

56.  This  was  placed  under  the  command  of  genera! 
Forbes.    He  left  Philadelphia  in  the  beginning  of  July, 
and,  after  a  laborious  march,  through  deep  morasses  and 
over  unexplored  mountains,  arrived  at  Raystown,  ninety 
miles  from  Du  Quesne.     An   advanced   party  of  eight 
hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  major  Grant,  was 
met  by  a  detachment  from  the  fort,  and  defeated,  with 
great  slaughter. 

57.  Forbes,  undismayed  by  this  disaster,  advanced  with 
cautious  and  steady  perseverance.     The  enemy,  observing 
his  circumspection,  determined  not  to  abide  the  event  of 
a  siege.     After  dismantling  the  fort,  they  retired  down  the 
Ohio,  to  their  settlements  on  the  Mississippi.     General 
Forbes,  taking  possession  of  the  place,  changed  its  name 
to  Pittsburgh.  » 

53 •  The  campaign  of  1758,  was  highly  honorable  to  the 
British  arms.  Of  the  three  expeditions,  two  had  com 
pletely  succeeded,  and  the  leader  of  the  third  had  made  an 
important  conquest.  To  the  commanding  talents  of  Pitt, 
and  the  confidence  which  they  inspired,  this  change  of 
fortune  must  be  attributed;  and  in  no  respect  were  these 
talents  more  strikingly  displayed,  than  in  the  choice  of 
men  to  execute  his  plans. 

59.  Encouraged  by  the  events  of  this  year,  the  English 
anticipated  still  greater  success  in  the  campaign  which 
was  to  follow.     The  plan  marked  out  by  the  minister, 
was  indicative  of  the  boldness  and  energy  of  his  genius. 
Three  different  armies  were,  at  the  same  time,  to  be  led 
against  the  three  strongest  posts  of  the  French  in  America ; 
Niagara,  Ticonderoga,  and  Quebec.     The  latter  post  was 
considered  the  strongest ;  and  it  was  therefore  intended 
that,  should  Ticonderoga  be   conquered,  the  victorious 
army  should  press  forward  to  assist  in  its  reduction. 

60.  In  the  beginning  of  July,  general  Prideaux  embarked 
on  Lake  Ontario,  with  the  army  destined  against  Niagara, 
and,  on  the  sixth,  landed  about  three  miles  from  the  fort. 
He  immediately  commenced  a  siege,  in  the  progress  of 
which   he  was  killed,  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell.     The 
command  devolved  upon  Sir  William  Johnson.     An  army 
of  French  and  Indians  approaching  soon  after,  he  detached 
a  part  of  his  forces  to  meet  them.     A  battle  ensued ;  the 
English  gained  the  victory,  which  was  followed  by  the 
surrender  of  the  fort. 

61.  General  Amherst,  to  whom  was  assigned  the  expe 
dition  against  Ticonderoga,  found  so  many  difficulties  to 


1759.]         FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.  123 

surmount,  that  he  was  unable  to  present  himself  before 
that  place  uritil  late  in  July.  It  was  immediately  aban 
doned  by  the  enemy.  The  British  general,  after  repairing 
the  works,  proceeded  against  Crown  Point.  On  his 
approach,  this  was  also  deserted,  the  enemy  retiring  to  the 
Isle  aux  Noix.  To  gain  possession  of  this  post,  great 
efforts  were  made,  and  •  much  time  consumed ;  but  a  suc 
cession  of  storms  on  Lake  Champlain,  prevented  success. 
General  Amherst  was  compelled  to  lead  back  his  army  to 
Crown  Point,  where  he  encamped  for  the  winter. 

62.  The  expedition  against  Quebec,  was  the  most  daring 
and  important.     That  place,  strong  by  nature,  had  been 
made  still  stronger  by  art,  and  had  received  the  appropriate 
appellation  of  the  Gibraltar  of  America.     Every  expedition 
against  it  had  failed.     It  was  now  commanded  by  Mont- 
calm,  an  officer  of  distinguished  reputation ;  and  an  attempt 
to  reduce  it  must  have  seemed  chimerical  to  any  one  but 
Pitt.     He  judged,  rightly,  that  the  boldest  and  most  dan 
gerous  enterprises  are  often  the  most  successful.     They 
arouse  the  energies  of  man,  and  elevate  them  to  a  level 
with  the  dangers  and  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  espe 
cially  when  committed  to  ardent   minds,  glowing  with 
enthusiasm,  and  emulous  of  glory. 

63.  Such  a  mind  he  had  discovered  in  general  Wolfo, 
whose  conduct  at  Louisburgh  had  attracted  his  attention. 
He  appointed  him  to  conduct  the  expedition,  and  gave  him 
for  assistants,  brigadier  generals  Moncton,  Townshend, 
and  Murray ;  all,  like  himself,  young  and  ardent.     Early 
in  the  season,  he  sailed  from  Halifax,  with  eight  thousand 
troops,  and,  near  the  last  of  June,  landed  the  whole  army 
on  the  island  of  Orleans,  a  few  miles  below  Quebec. 

64.  From  this  position  he  could  take  a  near  and  distinct 
view  of  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome.     These  were  so 
great,  that  even  the  bold  and  sanguine  Wolfe  perceived 
more  to  fear  than  to  hope.     In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Pitt,  written 
before  commencing  operations,  he  declared  that  he  saw 
but  little  prospect  of  reducing  the  place. 

65.  Quebec  stands  on  the  north  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  consists  of  an  upper  and  lower  town.     The  lower  town 
lies  between  the  river  and  a  bold  and  lofty  eminence, 
which  runs  parallel  to  it,  far  to  the  westward.     At  the  top 
of  this  eminence  is  a  plain,  upon  which  the  upper  town  is 
situated.     Below,  or  east  of  the  city,  is  the  river  St. 
Charles,  whose  channel  is  rough,  and  whose  banks  are 
sterp  and  broken.    A  short  distance  farther  down,  is  the 


1-24  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.         [1759. 

river  Montmorency ;  and  between  these  two  rivers,  and 
reaching  from  one  to  the  other,  was  encamped  the  French, 
army,  strongly  entrenched  and  at  least  equal  in  number  to 
that  of  the  English. 

66.  General  Wolfe  took  possession  of  Point  Levi,  on 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  Quebec,  and  from  that  posi 
tion  cannonaded  the  town.     Some  injury  was  done  to  the 
houses,  but  his  cannon  were  too  distant  to  make  any 
impression  upon  the  works  of  the  enemy.    He  resolved  to 
quit  this  post,  to  land  below  Montmorency,  and  passing  that 
river,  to  attack  the  French  general  in  his  entrenchments. 

67.  He  succeeded  in  landing  his  troops,  and,  with  a 
portion  of  his  army,  crossed  the  Montmorency.    A  partial 
engagement  took  place,  in  which  the  French  obtained  the 
advantage.    Relinquishing  this  plan,  he  then  determined, 
in  concert  with  the  admiral,  to  destroy  the  French  shipping 
and  magazines.     Two  attempts  were  unsuccessful ;  a  third 
was  more  fortunate,  yet  but  little  was  effected.    At  this 
juncture,  intelligence  arrived  that  Niagara  was  taken,  that 
Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  had  been  abandoned,  but 
that  general  Amherst,  instead  of  pressing  forward  to  their 
assistance,  was  preparing  to  attack  the  Isle  aux  Noix. 

68.  Wolfe  rejoiced  at  the  triumph  of  his  brethren  in 
arms,  but  could  not  avoid  contrasting  their  success  with 
Ids  own  ill  fortune.     His  mind,  alike  lofty  and  susceptible, 
Was  deeply  impressed  by  the  disasters  at  Montmorency ; 
and  the  extreme  chagrin  of  his  spirits,  preying  upon  his 
delicate  frame,  sensibly  affected  his  health.     He  was 
observed  frequently  to  sigh ;  and,  as  if  life  was  only  valu 
able  while  it  added  to  his  glory,  he  declared  to  his  intimate 
friends,  that  he  would  not  survive  the  disgrace  which  he 
imagined  would  attend  the  failure  of  his  enterprise. 

69.  Despairing  of  success  below  the  town,  he  next 
directed  his  efforts  towards  effecting  a  landing  above  it. 
He  removed  a  part  of  his  army  to  Point  Levi,  and  the 
remainder  higher  up  the  river.     He  now  found  that,  on 
this   quarter,  the    fortifications   were   not   strong;    and 
discovered  that  the  heights  behind  them  might  possibly 
be  gained,  by  ascending  the  precipice  in  a  narrow  path, 
which  was  defended  only  by  a  captain's  guard. 

70.  The  difficulties  attending  this  enterprise  were  nume 
rous.    The  current  was  rapid,  the  shore  shelving,  the  only 
landing  place  so  narrow  that  it  might  easily  be  missed  in 
the  dark,  and  the  steep  above,  such  as  troops,  even  when. 
unopposed,  could  not  ascend  without  difficulty.     Yet  the 


i:59.)  FRENCH  WAR  OF  1754—63.  125 

plan,  though  bold  and  hazardous,  was  well  adapted  to  the 
desperate  situation  of  affairs,  and  was  determined  on. 

71.  To  conceal  their  intention,  the  admiral  retired  seve 
ral  leagues  up  the  river.     During  the  evening,  a  strong 
detachment  was  put  on  board  the  boats,  and  moved  silently 
down  with  the  tide,  to  the  place  of  landing,  where  they 
arrived  an  hour  before  daybreak.    Wolfe  leaped  on  shore, 
was  followed  by  the  troops,  and  all  instantly  began,  with 
the  assistance  of  shrubs  and  projecting  rocks,  to  climb  up 
the  precipice.     The  guard  was  dispersed,  and,  by  the  dawn 
of  day,  the  whole  army  gained  the  heights  of  Abraham, 
where  the  different  corps  were  formed  under  their  respec 
tive  leaders. 

72.  Montcalm,  at  first,  could  not  believe  that  the  Eng 
lish  had  ascended  the  heights.     Wlien  convinced  of  the 
fact,  he  comprehended  the  full  advantage  they  had  gained. 
He  saw  that  a  battle  was  inevitable,  and  prepared  for  it 
with  promptness   and   courage.      Leaving  his  camp  at 
Montmorency,  he  advanced  towards  the  English  army, 
which  was  formed  in  order  of  battle  to  receive  him. 

73.  The  French  advanced  briskly.     The  English  re 
served  their  fire  until  the  enemy  were  near,  and  then  gave 
it  with  decisive  effect.     Early  in  the  engagement,  Wolfe 
was  wounded  in  the  wrist,  but,  preserving  his  composure, 
he  continued  to  encourage  his  troops.     Soon  after,  he 
received  a  shot  in  the  groin.     This  painful  wound  he  also 
concealed,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  grenadiers, 
and  was  leading  them  to  the  charge,  when  he  received  a 
third  and  mortal  wound. 

74.  Undismayed  by  the  fall  of  their  general,  the  English. 
continued  their  exertions  under  Moncton,  who,  in  a  short 
t  ime,  was  himself  wounded,  and  the  command  devolved  upon 
Townshend.    About  the  same  time,  Montcalm  received  a 
mortal  wound,  and  the  second  in  command  also  fell.     The 
left  wing  and  centre  of  the  French  gave  way.     Part  were 
driven  into  Quebec,  and  part  over  the  river  St.  Charles. 

75.  On  receiving  his  mortal  wound,  Wolfe  was  con 
veyed  into  the  rear,  where,  careless  about  himself,  he 
discovered,  in   the  agonies  of  death,  the  most  anxious 
solicitude  concerning  the  fate  of  the  day.     From  extreme 
iaintness,  he  had  reclined  his  head  on  the  arm  of  an  officer, 
but  was  soon  aroused  by  the  cry  of,  "  they  fly,  they  fly." 
"  WTho  fly  ?"  exclaimed  the  dying  hero.    "  The  French," 
answered  his  attendant.    "  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  die  con 
tented,"  and  immediately  expired.    A  death  so  glorious, 


126  REVOLUTION. 

and  attended  by  circumstances  so  interesting,  has  seldom 
been  recorded  in  history. 

76.  Five  days  after  the  battle,  the  city  surrendered, 
and  received  an  English  garrison.     The  French  concen 
trated  their  remaining  forces  at  Montreal,  and,  early  in  the 
spring,  made  attempts  to  regain  possession  of  Quebec. 
Unsuccessful  in  these,  they  returned  to  Montreal,  towards 
which  the  whole  British  force  in  America,  under  the  com 
mand  of  general  Amherst,  was  approaching.     This  force 
was  too  strong  to  be  resisted.    In  September,  1760,  that 
city  surrendered,  and  soon  after  all  the  French  posts  in 
Canada  fell  into  the  power  of  the  English. 

77.  In  the  other  parts  of  the  world,  their  arms  were 
equally  successful ;  and,  at  the  commencement  of  1763,  a 
peace,  highly  advantageous  to  their  interests,  was  con 
cluded  at  Paris.     By  the  treaty,  France  ceded  to  Great 
Britain  all  her  northern  settlements  in  America,  which 
relieved  the  colonies  from  the  continual  dread  of  savage 
incursions. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
REVOLUTION. 

IN  the  late  brilliant  contest,  England  had  made  unpre 
cedented  exertions.  At  its  close,  she  found  that,  though 
she  had  encircled  her  name  with  glory,  and  added  ex 
tensive  territories  to  her  empire,  she  had  increased,  in 
proportion,  the  burdens  of  her  subjects,  having  added  three 
hundred  and  twenty  millions  of  dollars  to  the  amount  of 
her  debt.  To  find  the  means  of  defraying  the  annual 
charges  of  this  debt,  and  her  other  increased  expenditures, 
was  the  first  and  difficult  task  of  her  legislators. 

2.  Regard  for  their  own  interest  and  popularity  impelled 
them  to  avoid,  if  possible,  imposing  the  whole  burden  upon 
themselves  and  their  fellow  subjects  at  home ;  and  their 
thoughts  were  turned  to  the  colonies,  as  the  source  whence 
alleviation  and  assistance  might  be  derived.     On  their 
account,  it  was  alleged,  the  contest  had  been  "waged;  they 
would  share  the  advantages  of  its  glorious  termination, 
and  justice  required  that  they  should  also  defray  a  portion 
of  the  expenses. 

3.  To  adopt  this  expedient,  the  British  ministry  were 


1764.]  DEVOLUTION.  127 

the  more  naturally  led  by  the  opinion  which  all  the  Euro 
pean  governments  entertained  of  the  relation  between  the 
mother  country  and  her  colonies.  They  were  supposed 
to  be  dependent  on  her  will ;  their  inhabitants  a,  distinct 
and  subordinate  class  of  subjects,  and  their  interests  en 
tirely  subservient  to  her  aggrandizement  and  prosperity. 

4.  Acting  upon  these  principles,  Great  Britain  had,  by 
her  laws  of  trade  and  navigation,  confined  the  commerce 
of  the  colonies  almost  wholly  to  herself.     To  encourage 
her  own  artizans,  she  had  even,  in  some  cases,  prohibited 
the  establishment  of  manufactories  in  America.     These 
restrictions,  while  they  increased  her  revenue  and  wealth, 
greatly  diminished  the  profits  of  the  trade  of  the  colonies, 
and  sensibly  impeded  their  internal  prosperity.  They  were 
most  injurious  to  New-England,  where  the  sterility  of  the 
soil  repelled  the  people  from  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  ; 
there  they  were  most  frequently  violated,  and  there  the 
arbitrary  mode  of  enforcing  them,  by  writs  of  assistance, 
awakened  the  attention  of  a  proud  and  jealous  people  to 
their  natural  rights,  to  their  rights  as  English  subjects, 
and  to  the  rights  granted  and  secured  by  their  charters. 

5.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1764,  the  British  par 
liament  enacted  a  law  imposing  duties  upon  certain  articles 
of  merchandise,  to  be  paid  in  the  colonial  ports.     Mr. 
Grenville,  the  prime  minister,  also  proposed  a  resolution, 
"  that  it  would  lie  proper  to  charge  certain  stamp  duties 
on  the  colonies,"  but  postponed  the  consideration  of  that 
subject  to  a  future  session.     As  it  was  foreseen  that  the 
law  would  be  disregarded,  if  extraordinary  measures  were 
not  adopted  to  enforce  it,  provision  was  made  that  all 
penalties  for  violations  of  it,  and  of  all  other  revenue 
laws,  might  be  recovered  in  the  admiralty  courts.     The 
judges  of  these  courts  were  dependent  solely  on  the  king, 
and  decided  the  causes  brought  before  them,  without  the 
intervention  of  a  jury. 

6.  Intelligence  of  these   proceedings    occasioned,   in 
America,  great  and  universal  alarm.     They  were  con 
sidered  the  commencement   of  a   system  of   taxation, 
which,  if  not  vigorously  resisted,   would,   in  time,  be 
extended  to  every  article  of  commerce,  and  to  every  in 
ternal  source  of  income ;  and  if  the  colonists  could  be 
deprived  in  one  class  of  causes,  why  not  in  all,  of  that 
inestimable  privilege,  the  trial  by  jury  1 

7.  The  general  court  of  Massachusetts,  at  their  session 
in  June,  took  this  law  into  consideration.    The  house  of 


123  DEVOLUTION.  [1761. 

representatives  sent  a  spirited  letter  of  instructions  to 
their  agent,  in  England,  in  which  they  denied  the  right  of 
parliament  to  impose  duties  and  taxes  upon  the  people  not 
represented  in  the  house  of  commons  ;  and  directed  him 
to  remonstrate  against  the  duties  imposed,  and  the  stamp 
act  in  contemplation.  They  also  acquainted  the  other 
colonies  with  the  instructions  they  had  given  to  their  agent, 
and  desired  their  concurrence  in  the  mode  of  opposition 
adopted.  In  the  course  of  the  year,  several  other  colo 
nies,  particularly  New- York  and  Virginia,  remonstrated 
in  respectful,  but  decided  terms,  against  the  proceedings 
of  parliament. 

8.  In  these  several  state  papers,  the  right  of  Great 
Britain  to  collect  a  tax  in  the  colonies,  was  explicitly 
denied ;  and  the  denial  was  supported  by  clear  and  power 
ful  arguments.     It  was   stated  that  the  first  emigrants 
came  to  America  with  the   undoubted   consent  of  the 
mother  country;   that  all  the  expenses  of  removal,  of 
purchasing  the  territory,  and,  for  a  long  time,  of  protection 
from  savage  warfare,  were  defrayed  by  private  individuals, 
except  in  the  single  instance  of  the  settlement  of  Georgia : 
that  charters,  under  the  great  seal,  were  given  to  the 
emigrants,  imparting  and  securing  to  them  and  to  their 
descendants,  all  the  rights  of  natural  born  English  sub 
jects  ;  that  of  these  rights,  none  was  more  indisputable, 
and  none  more  highly  valued,  than  that  no  subject  could 
be  deprived  of  his  property  but  by  his  own  consent,  ex 
pressed  in  person  or  by  his  representative;  that  taxes 
were  but  grants,  by  the  representative,  of  a  portion  of  his 
own  property,  and  of  that  of  those  who  had  authorized 
him  to  act  in  tkeir  behalf.  Could  it  be  just,  it  was  asked, 
that  the  representatives  of  Englishmen  should  "  give  and 
grant"  the  property  of  Americans  ?  With  what  safety  to 
the  colonies,  could  the  right  of  taxing  them  be  confided  to 
a  body  of  men  three  thousand  miles  distant,  over  whom 
they  had  no  control,  none  of  whom  could  be  acquainted 
with  their  situation  or  resources,  and  whose  interests 
would  impel  them  to  make  the  burdens  of  the  colonists 
heavy,  that  their  own  might  be  light  ? 

9.  But,  besides  infringing  the  rights  of  freemen,  the 
measure  was  neither  equitable  nor  generous.     Tho  colo 
nies   had  domestic  governments  which  they  alone  sup 
ported;  in  the  late  war,  their  exertions  ha<J  been  greater, 
in  proportion  to  their  ability,  than  those  of  England  ;  they 
n}<*®  had  contracted  debts  which  thev  must  themselves 


1765.]  DEVOLUTION.  12& 

pay;  the  taxes  laid  by  many  of  the  assemblies,  were 
higher  than  those  paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  England ;  if 
the  war  had  been  waged  on  their  account,  it  was  because, 
as  colonies,  they  were  beneficial  to  the  mother  country  ; 
and  from  its  happy  termination,  they  derived  no  advantage 
which  was  not  the  source  of  ultimate  profit  to  her. 

10.  Upon  men  who  entertained  the  strictest  notions  of 
colonial  dependence,  and  parliamentary  supremacy,  these 
arguments  had  little  effect.  The  minister  was  not  diverted 
from  his  purpose.    In  March,  1765,  he  laid  before  parlia 
ment  a  bill,  imposing  stamp  duties  on  certain  papers  and 
documents  used  in  the  colonies.     At  the  first  reading,  it 
was  warmly  opposed ;  by  some  because  it  was  impolitic » 
by  two  only  because  it  was  a  violation  of  right. 

11.  The  bill  was  supported  by  Charles  Townshend,  a 
brilliant  orator,  on  the  side  of  the  ministry.    At  the  con 
clusion  of  an  animated  speech,  he  demanded :  "  And  these 
Americans,  children  planted  by  our  care,  nourished  by  our 
indulgence,  protected  by  our  arms,  until  they  are  grown  to 
a  good  degree  of  strength  and  opulence,  will  they  grudge 
to  contribute  their  mite  to  relieve  us  from  the  heavy  load 
of  national  expense  which  we  lie  under  ?" 

12.  Colonel  Barre,  immediately  rising,  indignantly  ami 
eloquently  exclaimed  :  "  Children  planted  by  your  care  ! 
No.    Your  oppressions  planted  them  in  America.     They 
fled   from  your  tyranny  into   a  then  uncultivated  land, 
where  they  were  exposed  to  all  the  hardships  to  which 
human  nature  is  liable ;  and  among  others,  to  the  cruelties 
of  a  savage  foe,  the  most  subtle,  and  I  will  take  upon 
me  to  say,  the  most  terrible,  that  ever  inhabited  any  part 
of  God's  earth.     And  yet,  actuated  by  principles  of  true 
English  liberty,  they  met  all  these  hardships  with  pleasure, 
when  they  compared  them  with  those  they  suffered  in 
their  own  country,  from  men  who  should  have  been  their 
friends. 

13.  "  They  nourished  by  your  indulgence  !  No.   They 
grew  by  your  neglect.    When  you  began  to  care  about 
them,  that  care  was  exercised  in  sending  persons  to  rule 
over  them,  who  were  the  deputies  of  some  deputy  sent  to 
spy  out  their  liberty,  to  misrepresent  their  actions,  and  to 
prey  upon  them;    whose  behavior,  on  many  occasions, 
has  caused  the  blood  of  those  sons  of  liberty  to  recoil 
within  them;  men  promoted  to  the  highest  seats  of  justice, 
some  of  whom  were  glad,  by  going  to  a  foreign  country, 
j'.o  escane  being  brought  to  the  bar  of  jastice  in  their  own* 


'  13  0  REVOLUTION.  [1763. 

14.  "  They  protected  by  your  arms !    They  liave  nobly 
taken  up  arms  in  your  defence.     They  have  exerted  their 
valor,  amidst  their  constant  and  laborious  industry,  for 
the  defence  of  a  country  which,  while  its  frontier  was 
drenched  in  blood,  has  yielded  all  its  little  savings  to  your 
emolument.     Believe  me,  and  remember  I  this  day  told 
you  so,  the  same  spirit  which  actuated  that  people  at  first, 
still  continues  with  them;   but  prudence  forbids  me  to 
explain  myself  farther. 

15.  "  God  knows  I  do  not  at  this  time  speak  from  party 
heat.     However  superior  to  me  in  general  knowledge  and 
experience,  any  one  here  may  be,  I  claim  to  know  more 
of  America,  having  been  conversant  in  that  country.  The 
people  there  are  as  truly  loyal  as  any  subjects  the  king 
has ;  but  they  are  a  people  jealous  of  their  liberties,  and 
will  vindicate  them  if  they  should  be  violated.     But  the 
subject  is  delicate ;  I  will  say  no  more." 

16.  Eloqence  and  argument  availed  nothing.     The  bill 
was  almost  unanimously  passed.    The  night  after,  Doctor 
Franklin,  then  in   England  as  agent  for   Pennsylvania, 
wrote  to  Charles  Thompson  :  "  The  sun  of  liberty  is  set ; 
you  must  light  up  the  candles  of  industry  and  economy." 
"  Be  assured,"  said  Mr.  Thompson,  in  reply,  "that  we 
shall  light  up  torches  of  quite  another  sort ;"  thus  predict 
ing  the  commotions  which  followed. 

17.  The  act  provided  that  all  contracts  and  legal  pro 
cesses  should  be  written  on  stamped  paper,  which  was  to 
be  furnished,  at  exorbitant  prices,  by  the  government  or 
should  have  no  force  in  law.     Information  of  its  passage 
was  received  in  all  the  colonies  with  sorrow  and  dismay. 
They  saw  that  they  must  either  surrender,  without  a 
struggle,  their  dnrling  rights,  or  resist  the  government  of 
a  nation,  which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  regard  with 
filial  respect,  and  was  then  the  most  powerful  in  the  world. 

18.  The  general  assembly  of  Virginia  were  in  session 
when  the  information  arrived.     Of  that  body,   Patrick 
Henry,  a  young  man,  but  a  distinguished  orator,  was  a 
member.     Near  the  close  of  the  session,  he  proposed  five 
resolutions,  in  the  first  four  of  which  were  asserted  the 
various  rights  and  privileges  cl&'imeft  by  the  colonists,  and, 
in  the  fifth,  the  right  of  parliament  to  tax  America,  was 
boldy  and  explicitly  denied.  The^e  he  defended  by  strong 
reason  and  irresistible  eloquence,  and  they  were  adopted 
by  a  majority  of  one. 

J9.  The  next  day,  iniis  absence,  the  fifth  resolution 


REVOLUTION.  13f 

was  rescinded ;  but  that  and  the  others  had  gone  forth  to 
the  world,  and  imparted  higher  animation  to  the  friends  of 
freedom.  They  were  a  signal  to  the  resolute  and  ardent ; 
they  gave  encouragement  to  the  timid  and  cautious :  they 
were  industriously  but  privately  circulated,  in  the  principal 
cities,  until  they  arrived  in  New- England,  where  they 
were  fearlessly  published  in  all  the  newspapers. 

20.  Nearly  at  the  same  time,  and  before  the  proceed 
ings  of  Virginia  were  known  in  Massachusetts,  her  general 
court  adopted  measures  to  procure  a  combined  opposition 
to  the  offensive  laws.     They  passed  a  resolve  proposing 
that  a  congress  of  delegates  from  the  several  colonies, 
should  be  held  at  New- York,  and  addressed  letters  to  the 
other  assemblies,  earnestly  soliciting  their  concurrence. 

21.  These  legislative  proceedings  took  place  in  May 
and  June,  1765.     They  were  the  moderate  and  dignified 
expression  of  feelings,  which  animated,  in  a  more  intense 
degree,  a  great  majority  of  the  people.     In  New-England, 
associations,  for  the  purpose  of  resisting  the  law,  were 
organized,  assuming,  from  Barre's  speech,  the  appellation 
of  "  Sons  of  Liberty  ;"  pamphlets  were  published  vindi 
cating  the  rights  of  the  colonies ;  and  the  public  journals 
were  filled  with  essays  pointing  out  the  danger  which 
threatened  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  encouraging  a  bold 
and  manly  resistance. 

22.  Excited  by  these  publications,  a  multitude  assembled 
in  Boston,  on  the   14th  of  August,  burned  the  effigy  of 
Andrew  Oliver,  who  had  been  appointed  stamp-distributer, 
and  demolished  a  building  which  they  supposed  he  had 
erected  for  his  office.      Fearful  of  farther  injury,  Mr. 
Oliver  declared  his  intention  to  resign,  when  the  people 
desisted  from  molesting  him. 

23.  Several  days  afterwards,  a  mob  beset  the  house  of 
Mr.  Story,  an  officer  of  the  detested  admiralty  court. 
They  broke  his  windows,  destroyed  his  furniture,  and 
burned  his  papers*     They  then  proceeded  to  the  house  of 
lieutenant-governor  Hutchinson,  by  whose  advice,  it  was 
supposed,  the  stamp-act  had  been  passed.     They  entered 
it  by  force.     Himself,  his  wife,  and  children  fled.    His 
elegant  furniture  was  carried  off  or  destroyed.     The  par 
titions  of  the  house  were  broken  down,  and  the  next 
morning  nothing  but  the  bare  and  desolate  walls  remained. 

24.  When  intelligence  of  these  proceedings  reached 
Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  the  people  of  that  plnce  as 
sembled  and  committed  similar  outrages,    Two  houses 


132  REVOLUTION.  [17b'J. 

were  pillaged,  and  the  stamp-distributer,  to  preserve  his 
own,  was  obliged  to  give  to  the  leader  of  the  exasperated 
populace  a  written  resignation  of  his  office.  In  Connec 
ticut,  similar  commotions  were  also  quieted  by  the  resigna 
tion  of  the  distributer  of  stamps  for  that  colony. 

25.  In  New- York,  the  people  displayed  equal  spirit, 
but  less  turbulence  and  rage.     The  obnoxious  act  was 
printed,  under  the  title  of  "  The  folly  of  England,  and 
the  ruin  of  America,"  and  thus  exhibited  for  sale  in  the 
streets.    At  an  early  period,  the  stamp-distributer  pru 
dently  resigned  his  office ;  and  when  the  stamped  paper 
arrived,  it  was  deposited  for  safe  keeping  in  the  fort.    A 
mob  required  the  lieutenant-governor  to  place  it  in  their 
hands.     He  refused ;  but,  terrified  by  their  menaces, 
consented  to  deliver  it  to  the  magistrates,  who  deposited 
it  in  the  city  hall.     Ten  boxes,  which  after  wards  arrived, 
were  seized  by  the  people,  and  committed  to  the  flames. 

26.  So  general  was  the  opposition  to  the  law,  that  the 
stamp-officers,  in   all  the  colonies,   were  compelled  to 
resign.     In  Boston,  care  was  taken,  on  the  one  hand,  to 
prevent  the  recurrence  of  violent  proceedings,  and,  on  the 
other,  to  keep  in  full  vigor  the  spirit  of  resistance.    A 
newspaper  was  established,  having  for  its  device  a  snake 
divided  into  as  many  parts  as  there  were  colonies,  and 
for  its  motto,  "join  or  die."    Mr.  Oliver  was  required  to 
resign  his  office,  with  more  ceremony  and  solemnity,  under 
a  large  elm,  which  had,  from  the  meetings  held  under  it, 
received  the  name  of  the  tree  of  liberty. 

27.  In  October,  the  congress  recommended  by  Massa 
chusetts,  convened  at  New- York.    Delegates  from  six 
provinces  only  were  present.     Their  first  act  was  a  Dec 
laration  of  Rights,   in   which  they   asserted,   that   the  \ 
colonies  were  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
natural  born  subjects  within  the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain, 
the  most  essential  of  which  were  the  exclusive  right  to 
tax  themselves,   and   the  privilege  of  trial  by  jury.    A 
petition  to  the  king,  and  a  memorial  to  both  houses  of 
parliament,  were  also  agreed  on ;  and  the  colonial  assem 
blies  were  advised  to  appoint  special  agents  to  solicit,  in 
concert,  a  redress  of  grievances.     To  interest  the  people 
of  England  in  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  the  merchants  of 
New- York  directed  their  correspondents,  in  that  country, 
to  purchase  no  more  goods  until  the  stamp-act  should  bti 
Tepealed.     Immediately  after,  non-importation  agreements 
were  adopted  in  the  other  colonies,  and  associations  were 


1766.1  REVOLUTION.  m 

organized  for  the  encouragement  of  domestic  manufac 
tures.  To  avoid  the  necessity  of  stamps,  proceedings  in 
the  courts  of  justice  were  suspended,  and  disputes  were 
settled  by  arbitration. 

28.  In  the  meantime,  an  entire  change  had  taken  place 
in  the  British  Cabinet,  and  a  proposition  to  repeal  the 
stamp  act  was,  by  the  new  ministry,  laid  before  parliament. 
An  interesting  debate  ensued.    Mr.  Grenville,  the  late 
prime  minister,  declared,  that  to  repeal  the  act  under 
existing  circumstances,  would  degrade  the  government, 
and  encourage  rebellion.     "When,"  he  demanded,  "were 
the  Americans   emancipated]    By  what  law,  by  what 
reason,  do  they  ungratefully  claim  exemption  from  defray- 
ing  expenses  incurred  in  protecting  them  1" 

29.  William  Pitt,   he  who  had  wielded,  with   such 
mighty  effect,  the  power  of  England,  in  the  late  war,  rose 
to  reply.  He  regretted  that  he  had  not  been  able  to  attend 
in  his  place,  and  oppose  the  law  on  its  passage.     "  It  is 
now  an  act  that  has  passed.    I  would  speak  with  decency 
of  every  act  of  this  house ;  but  I  must  beg  the  indulgence 
of  this  house  to  speak  of  it  with  freedom.     Assuredly  a 
more  important  subject  never  engaged  your  attention ;  that 
subject  only  excepted,  when,  nearly  a  century  ago,  it  was 
the  question  whether  you  yourselves  were  bond  or  free  ? 

30.  "  Those  who  have  spoken  before  me,  with  so  much 
vehemence,  would  maintain  the  act  because  our  honor 
demands  it.    But  can  the  point  of  honor  stand  opposed 
against  justice,  against  reason,  against  right  1    It  is  my 
opinion  that  England  has  no  right  to  tax  the  colonies. 
At  the  same  time,  I  assert  the  authority  of  this  kingdom 
over  the  colonies  to  be  sovereign  and  supreme,  in  every 
circumstance  of  government  and  legislation  whatsoever. 

31.  "  Taxation  is  no  part  of  the  governing  or  legisla 
tive  power.     The  taxes  are  a  voluntary  gift  and  grant  of 
the  commons  alone ;  when,  therefore,  in  this  house,  we 
give  and  grant,  we  give  and  grant  what  is  our  own.     But 
in  an  American  tax,  what  do  we  do  1    We,  your  majes 
ty's  commons  of  Great  Britain,  give  and  grant  to  your 
majesty — what  1  Our  own  property  ]   No.     We  give  and 
grant  to  your  majesty  the  property  of  your  commons  in 
America.    It  is  an  absurdity  in  terms. 

32.  "  It  has  been  asked,  when  were  the  Americans 
emancipated]    But  I  desire  to  know  when  they  were 
made  slaves.    I  hear  it  said,  that  America  is  obstinate ; 
America  ia   almost  in  open  rebellion.      I  reioice  that 

M 


}34  REVOLUTION. 

America  has  resisted.  Three  millions  of  people,  so  dead 
to  all  the  feelings  of  liberty  as  voluntarily  to  submit  to  bo 
slaves,  would  have  been  fit  instruments  to  make  slaves' 
of  ourselves. 

33.  "  The  honorable  member  has  said,  for  he  is  fluent 
in  words  of  bitterness,  that  America  is  ungrateful.     He 
boasts  of  his  bounties  towards  her.     But  are  not  these 
bounties  intended  finally  for  the  benefit  of  this  kingdom  ? 
The  profits  of  Great  Britain,  from  her  commerce  with 
the  colonies,  are  two  millions  a  year.     This  is  the  fund 
that  carried  you  triumphantly  through  the  last  war.    The 
estates  that  were  rented  at  two  thousand  pounds  a  year, 
seventy  years  ago,  are  at  three  thousand  pounds  at  pres 
ent.    You  owe  this  to  America.     This  is  the  price  she- 
pays  you  for  protection. 

34.  "  A  great  deal  has  been  said  without  doors,  and' 
more  than  is  discreet,  of  the  power,  of  the  strength  of 
America.     In  a  good  cause,  on  a  sound  bottom,  the  force 
of  this  country  can  crush  America  to  atoms.     But  on  the 
ground  of  this  tax,  when  it  is  wished  to  prosecute  air 
evident  injustice,  I  am  one  who  will  lift  my  hands  and 
my  voice   against   it.     In  such  a  cause,  your  success 
would  be  deplorable  and  victory  hazardous.     America, 
if  she  fell,  would  fall  like  the  strong  man.     She  would 
embrace  the  pillars  of  the  state,  and  pull  down  the  con 
stitution  along  with  her." 

35.  The  sentiments  of  this  great  statesman  prevailed 
in  parliament.     The  stamp  act  was  repealed;  but  another 
act  was  passed  declaring  that  "  the  legislature  of  Great 
Britain  has  authority  to  make  laws  to  bind  the  colonies 
in  all  cases  whatsoever."     The  merchants  of  London  re 
joiced  at  this  repeal.     They  had  felt  the  effects  of  the 
colonial  non-importation  agreements,  and   dreaded  that 
still  more  injurious  consequences  would  follow* 

3G.  But  far  greater  were  the  rejoicings  of  the  Ameri 
cans.  They  had  obtained  the  object  for  \vhich  they  had 
contended.  They  regarded  the  declaratory  act  as  the 
mere  reservation  of  wounded  pride,  and  welcomed  with 
transport  the  opportunity  of  again  cherishing  their  former 
affection  for  the  land  of  their  fathers.  The  assemblies  of 
several  colonies  voted  their  thanks  to  Mr.  Pitt,  and  to 
others  in  England  who  had  supported  their  cause;  and 
that  of  Virginia  resolved  to  erect  an  obelisk  to  their 
honor,  and  a  marble  statue  of  the  king,  as  a  memorial  of 
gratitude, 


1767.]  REVOLUTION.  I£i> 

37.  By  the  people  of  New-England  and  New- York  less 
joy  was  felt  and  less  gratitude  displayed.     The  laws  im 
posing  duties  on   their  trade  were  still  in  force.      The 
courts  of  admiralty,  sitting  without  juries,  still  retained 
jurisdiction    of   all    revenue    causes.      Their    repeated 
contests  with  their  governors,  had  weakened  their  attach 
ment  to  the  nation  that  appointed  them,  and  confirmed 
their  republican  principles.     They  still  remembered  the 
past  and  entertained  suspicions  of  the  future. 

38.  The  very  next  year  events  occurred  which  justified 
these  suspicions.     A  law  of  parliament,  which  remained 
unrepealed,  directed    that   whenever   troops  should    be 
inarched  into  any  of  the  colonies,  quarters,  rum,  and  va 
rious  necessary  articles,  should  be  provided  for  them,  .at 
tlie  expense  of  the  colony.     The  assembly  of  New- York 
refused  obedience  to  this  law,  considering  in  an  indirect 
mode  of  taxing  them  without  their  consent.     To  punish 
this  disobedience,  parliament  immediately  suspended  the 
authority  of  the  assembly.     It  was  easily  seen  that  noth 
ing  had  been  gained,  if  this  power  of  suspension*  for  such 
a  cause,  existed,  and  could  be  exercised  at  pleasure. 

39.  The  alarm,  occasioned   by  this    act  of  despotic 
power,  wTas  increased  by  a  measure,  which,  under  the 
auspices  of  a  new  ministry,  was  adopted  in  June,  ltG7. 
A  duty  was  imposed   by  parliament  on  the  importation 
into  the  colonies,  of  glass,  tea,  and  other  enumerated 
articles,  and  provision  was  made  for  the  appointment  of 
commissioners  of  the  customs  to  be  dependent  solely  on 
the  crown. 

40.  Early  in  the  next  year,  the  general  court  of  Massa 
chusetts,  pursuing  the  same  course  as  in  1764,  addressed 
a  letter  to  their  agent  in  London,  containing  able  arguments 
against  those  duties,  and  requested  him  to  communicate  the 
letter  to  the  ministry.   They  also  sent  to  the  other  colonial 
assemblies,  a  circular  letter,  in  which  these  arguments 
were  repeated,  and  suggested  the  expediency  of  acting  in 
concert,  in  all  endeavors  to  obtain  redress. 

"41.  These  proceedings  incensed  and  alarmed  the  min 
istry.  They  feared  that  a  union  of  the  colonies  would 
give  them  strength.  an*l  confidence,  and  determined  if  pos 
sible  t«  prevent  it.  They  instructed  Sir  John  Bernard, 
then  governor  of  Massachusetts,  to  require  the  general 
court  to  rescind  the  vote  directing  the  circular  letter  to  bo 
t,  nnd  in  case  pf  refusal  -to  dissolve  it.  The  governor 


136  DEVOLUTION  [1768. 

communicated  these  instructions  to  the  house  of  represen 
tatives,  which,  by  a  vote  of  ninety-two  to  seventeen,  refu 
sed  to  rescind,  and  was  accordingly  dissolved. 

42.  The  attempt  to  intimidate  did  but  strengthen  oppo 
sition.     The  non-importation  agreements,  which  had  been 
lately  abandoned,  were   renewed,  and  more   extensively 
adopted.     The  citizens  of  Boston  met,  and  proposed  that 
a  convention  of  delegates  from  the  several  towns  in  the 
province,  should  be  held  at  that  place.     Nearly  every 
town  accordingly  sent  delegates.  This  convention,  though 
it  disclaimed  all  legal  authority,  was  regarded  with  the 
same  respect  as  a  legitimate  assembly.  Its  proceedings 
were  unimportant,  but  by  its  sessions  in  the  metropolis  of 
New- England,  the  people  became  accustomed  to  pay  def 
erence  to  a  body  of  men  deriving  all  their  authority  from 
the  instructions  of  their  constituents. 

43.  On  so  many  occasions  had  the  refractory   spirit  of 
the  citizens  of  Boston  been  displayed,  that  general  Gage, 
who  was  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  troops  in  the  col 
onies,  was  ordered  to  station  a  regiment  in  that  town,  as 
well  to  overawe  the  citizens,  as  to  protect  the  officers  of 
1  he  revenue  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty.     Before  the 
order  was  executed,  the  seizure  of  a  sloop  belonging  to 
Mr. Hancock,  a  popular  leader,  occasioned  a  riot,  in  which 
tlioso.  officers  were  insulted  and  beaten.     The    general, 
on  receiving  information  of  this  event,  sent  two  regiments 
instead  of  one,  and  on  the  first  of  October  they  arrived  in 
the  harbour. 

44.  The   ships    that  brought    them,  taking  a  station 
that  commanded  the  whole   town,  lay  with  their  broad 
sides  towards  it,  ready  to  fire  should  resistance  be  at 
tempted.     The   troops,  with  loaded  muskets  and  fixed 
bayonets,  then  landed ;  and,  the  selectmen  having  refused 
Vo   provide  quarters,  tbey  took  possession  of  the  state- 
house.     All  the  rooms,  except  one  reserved  for  the  coun 
cil,  were  filled,  and  two  peices  of  cannon  were  placed  near 
the  principal  entrance. 

45.  With  indignant  and  exasperated  feelings,  the  people 
witnessed  this  threatening  display  pf  military  force.    They 
saw  the  hall  of  their  venerated  legislature  polluted  by  the 
tread  of  foreign  mercenaries.     They  saw  soldiers  parading 
their  streets  and  guards   mounted  at  the  corners.    They 
were  challenged  as  they  passed,  and  the  unwelcome^  din 
•of  martial  nwio  often  disturbed  thfir  repose.     They 


1769.]  REVOLUTION.  Ivi7 

knew  that  intimidation  was  the  object,  and  felt  a  stronger 
determination  to  resist  than  had  before  animated  their 
bosoms. 

46.  Resolutions,  in  the  mean  time,  had  been  adopted  in 
parliament,  censuring,  in  the  strongest  terms  the  conduct 
of  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  and  directing  the  gover 
nor  to  make  strict  inquiry,  as  to  all  treasons  committed  in 
that  province,  since  the  year  1667,  in  order  that  the  per 
sons  most  active  in  committing  them  might  be  sent  to 
England  for  trial. 

47.  These  resolutions  rendered  it  sufficiently  evident 
that  Great  Britain  had  determined  to  adhere  to  the  system 
of  measures  she  had  adopted.     In  May,  they  were  taken 
•into  consideration  by  the  house  of  burgesses  of  Virginia. 
In  sundry  resolutions,  they  reasserted  the  right  of  the 
colonies  to  be  exempted  from  parliamentary  taxation,  and 
declared  ^that  seizing  persons  in  the  colonies,  suspected  of 
having  committed  crimes  therein^  and  sending  them  be 
yond  sea  to  be  tried,  violated  the  rights  of  British  subjects, 
as  it  deprived  them  of  the  inestimable  right  of  being  tried 
by  a  jury  of  the  vicinage,  and  of  producing  witnesses  on 
their  trial. 

48.  While  these  resolutions  were  under  discussion,  the 
house,  apprehensive  of  an  immediate  dissolution  should 
the  subject  of  their  deliberations  be  known  to  the  go-verr 
nor,  closed  their  doors.     The  instant  they  were  opened,  a'" 
message  was  announced,  requesting  their  attendance  be 
fore  him.     "  Mr.  Speaker,"  said  he,  "  and  gentlemen  of 
the  house  of  burgesses.     I  have  heard  of  your  resolves, 
and  augur  ill  of  their  effects.     You  have  made  it  my  duty 
to  dissolve  you,  and  you  are  dissolved  accordingly." 

49.  This,  like  every  previous  measure  of  intimidation, 
f-xcited  to  a  still  higher  degree,  the  spirit  of  opposition. 
The  members  assembled  at  a  private  house,  elected  their 
speaker  to  preside  as  moderator,  and  unanimously  formed 
a  non-importation  agreement  similar  to  those  previously- 
adopted  at  the  north.     In  a  few  weeks,  the  example  of 
Virginia  was  followed  by  most  of  the  southern  colonies. 

50.  To  the  citizens  of  Boston,  the  troops  quartered 
among   them  were   a  painful   and  irritating   spectacle. 
Quarrels  occurring  daily  between  them  and  the  populace, 
increased  the  animosity  of  each  to  ungovernable  hatred. 
At  length,  on  the  evening  of  the  fifth  of  March,  an  affray 
*;>ok  place  in  Kins-street,  [since  called  State-stree'.,]  in 

M  2 


K5»  REVOLUTION.  [1770. 

which  a  detachment  of  the  troops  commanded  by  captain 
Preston,  after  being  insulted,  pelted  with  snow-balls  and 
<lared  to  fire,  discharged  their  muskets  upon  the  multitude, 
killing  four  persons  and  wounding  others. 

51.  The  drums  were  instantly  beat  to  arms,  and  several 
thousand  people  assembled,  who,  enraged  by  the  sight  of 
the  dead  bodies  of  their  fellow  citizens,  slain  in  a  cause 
dear  to  them  all,  prepared  to  attack  a  larger  detachment 
which  had  been  sent  to  support  their  comrades.     In  this 
state  of  excitement,  they  were  addressed  by  lieutenant- 
governor  Hutchinson,  who  appeared  in  the  midst  of  them. 
Though  personally  obnoxious,  he  calmed  their  fury,  and 
prevailed  upon  them  to  disperse  until  morning. 

52.  The  next  day,  captain  Preston  and  his  party  were 
arrested  and  committed  to  prison.     The  citizens  met  and. 
appointed  a  committee  to  demand  the  immediate  removal 
of  the  troops  from  the  town.     At  this  meeting  Samuel 
Adams,  an   inflexible  patriot,  was  distinguished   for  his 
decision  and  boldness.     After  some  hesitation,  on  the  part 
of  the  commanding  officer,  they  were  sent  to  castle  Wil- 
liam,  and   were  accompanied  by  several  officers  of  the 
< 'list cms  who  dreaded  the  indignation  of  the  people. 

53.  Three  days  afterwards,  the  funeral  of  the  deceased 
1  ook  place.    It  was  conducted  with  gn  «t  pomp,  and  unusual 
ceremonies,  expressive  of  the  public  feeling.     The  shops 
were  closed.     The  bells  of  Boston,  Roxbury,  and  Charles- 
1  ow u  were  tolled.    Four  processions,  moving  from  different 
parts'  of  the  town,  met  at  the  fatal  spot,  and  proceeded 
thence  towards  the  place  of  interment.     This  united  pro 
fession  comprised  an  immense  number  of  people  on  foot 
Jind  in  carriages,  all  displaying  the  deepest  grief  and  indig 
nation.     The  bodies  were  deposited  together  in  the  same 
vault. 

54.  When  the  passions  of  the  people  had  in  some  degree 
subsided,  captain  Preston  and  his  soldiers  were  brought  to 
1  rial.     They  were  defended  by  John  Adams,  and  .Insiah 
Quincy,  two  able  lawyers,  and  distinguished  leaders  of 
the  popular  party.     For  nearly  six  weeks,  the  court  were 
employed  in  examining  witnesses,  and  in  listening  to  the 
arguments   of   counsel.      Captain  Preston,   not    having 
ordered  his  men  to  lire,  was  acquitted  by  the  jury.     Of 
the  soldiers,  six  were  also  acquitted, there  being  no  positive 
testimony  that  they  fired  upon  the  people  ;  and  two  were 
acquitted  of  murder,  as  great  provocation  was  offered,  but 


1772.]  REVOLUTION.  Z39> 

found  guilty  of  manslaughter — a  result  evincing  the  integ 
rity  of  the  jury  and  the  magnanimity  and  uprightness  of 
She  counsel  for  the  accused. 

55.  While  these  events  were  occurring  in  the  colonies, 
&a  attempt,  supported  by  the  prime  minister,  was  made  in 
England,  to  repeal  all  the  laws  for  raising  a  revenue  in 
America.     The  parliament,  with  a  mixture  of  timidity  and 
obstinacy,  characteristic  of  the  councils  of  the  nation  at 
that  period,  relinquished  all  the  duties  but  that  on  tea,  and 
this  tkey  unwisely  retained  to  assert  and  display  their 
supremacy  over  the  colonies. 

56.  This  partial  repeal  produced  no  change  in  the  senti 
ments  of  the  people.      By  rendering  the  contest  more 
clearly  a  contest  of  principle,  it  sanctified  their  conduct  in 
their  own  view,  and  ennobled  it  in  that  of  the  world. 
The  non-importation  agreements,  however,  were  made  to 
correspond  with  the  altered  law.     Tea  only  was  to  bo 
excluded  from  the  country;  and  this  article  of  luxury  was 
banished  from  the  tables  of  all  who  were  friendly  to  Ame 
rican  risfttK. 


CHAPTER  XVI.  / 

REVOLUTION. 

THE  years  1771  and  1772  were  not  distinguished  by  any 
important  event.  The  southern  colonies,  more  agricultural 
than  commercial,  suffered  but  little  from  the  operation  of 
the  laws  of  trade,  and,  having  mostly  popular  governors, 
continued  tranquil.  In  Massachusetts,  various  causes 
contributed  to  increase  the  discontent  which  previously 
existed.  Governor  Hutchinson,  having  adjourned  the 
general  court  to  Salem,  refused,  notwithstanding-  reiterated 
remonstrances,  to  permit  them  to  return  to  Beaton.  He 
withdrew  the  provincial  troops  from  the  castle  and  sup 
plied  their  place  with  regulars,  as  the  British  troops  were 
then  called,  lie  declined  receiving  his  sal/iry  from  the 
colonial  treasury,  stating  that  his  majesty  had  assigned  to 
him,  and  also  to  the  judges,  permanent  3,nd  honorable 
salaries,  to  be  paid  in  Great  Britain.  These  measures 
were  highly  unpopular,  and  especially  the  last  which  re— 
ffcnsed  those  officers  from  all  dependence  on  the  people. 

•2.  To  ascertain  the  sentiments  of  the,  inhabitants ;  to 


140  REVOLUTION.  [1773. 

enlighten  the  remotest  parts  of  the  province  by  diffusing 
intelligence,  and  distributing  political  essays  ;  and  to  pro 
duce  concert  in  measures,  James  Warren  and  Samuel 
Adams  suggested  and  procured  the  appointment,  in  every 
town,  of  committees  of  correspondence.  By  the  agency 
of  these,  resolutions  and  addresses,  sometimes  inflamma 
tory  and  always  spirited,  were  speedily  conveyed  through 
the  country,  arousing  the  attention  of  all  and  exhorting  to 
perseverance  in  the  cause  of  liberty.  This  example  was 
soon  after  followed  in  other  colonies  ;  and  in  1773,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Virginia  assembly,  standing  committees 
were  appointed,  by  the  colonial  legislatures,  to  correspond 
with  each  other.  This  institution,  when  more  active 
opposition  became  necessary,  was  found  extremely  useful. 

3.  In  this  year,  Dr.  Franklin  obtained  in  London  a 
number  of  original    letters    from  governor   Hutchinson, 
lieutenant-governor  Oliver  and  others,  to  their  correspon 
dents  in  parliament.     In  these  letters,  the  opposition  in 
Massachusetts  was  stated  to  be  confined  to  a  few  factious 
individuals,  who  had  been  emboldened  by  the  weakness  of 
the  means  used  to  restrain  them.     Measures  more  vigorous 
were  recommended :  and  the  ministry  were  urged  to  take 
from  the  people  and  exercise  themselves  the  power  of 
appointing  counsellors  and  all  colonial  magistrates.   These 
letters  he  transmitted  to  Boston. 

4.  The  source  and  occasion  of  the  offensive  proceedings 
of  parliament  were  now  disclosed.     The  passions  of  the 
people  were  highly  inflamed,  and  the  weight  of  popular 
indignation  fell  upon  the  authors  of  these  letters.     The 
central   committee  of  correspondence,   at   Boston,   sent 
printed  copies,  enclosed  in  a  spirited  circular,  to  all  the 
towns  in  the  province.     And  the  general  court,  in  several 
resolutions  which  were  also  published,  animadverted  with 
severity  upon  the  misrepresentations  and  advice  contained 
in  the  letters,  thus  increasing  the  irritation  which  their 
discovery  and  perusal  had  occasioned. 

5.  Meanwhile  the  tea  of  the  East  India  Company,  not 
finding  a  market  in  America,  accumulated  in  their  ware 
houses  in  England.     Encouraged  by  the  government,  they 
resolved  to  export  it  on  their  own  account,  and  appointed 
consignees  in  i  he  various  sea-ports  in  the  colonies.   Those 
in  Philadelphia  were  induced,  by  the  disapprobation  ex 
pressed  by  the  citizens,  to  decline  their  appointment.     In 
New- York,  spirited  handbills  were  circulated  menacing 
-,VKth  ruin  every  gerson  who  should  be  concerned  in  vendinsr 


1773.]  REVOLUTION.  til 

tea,  and  requiring  the  pilots,  at  their  peril,  not  to  conduct 
ships,  loaded  with  that  article,  into  the  harbor.  Intimidated 
by  these  proceedings,  the  captains  of  the  tea  ships,  bound 
to  those  ports,  returned  with  their  cargoes  to  England. 

6>  In  Boston,  inflammatory  handbills  were  also  circu 
lated,  and  meetings  held ;  but  the  consignees,  being  mostly 
relatives  of  the  governor,  and  relying  on  his  support,  refused 
to  decline  their  appointments.  Their  refusal  enraged  the 
citizens,  and  the  community  became  agitated  by  the  ope 
ration  of  highly  excited  passions.  Meetings  were  more 
frequently  held.  The  committees  of  correspondence  were 
t^very  where  active.  The  people  of  the  country  exhorted 
their  brethren  in  Boston  to  act  worthy  of  their  former 
character,  worthy  of  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  upon  whose  con 
duct,  in  the  present  emergency,  every  thing  depended. 

7.  On  the  29th  of  November,  a  ship,  laden  with  tea, 
came  into  the  harbor.     Notifications  were  immediately 
posted  up,  inviting  every  friend  to  his  country  to  meet 
forthwith  and  concert  united  resistance  to  the  arbitrary 
measures  of  Britain.     A  crowded  meeting  was  held,  and 
a  resolution  adopted,  "that  the  tea  should  not  be  landed, 
that  no  duty  should  be  paid,  and  that  it  should  be  sent 
back  in  the  same  vessel."    A  watch  was  also  organized 
to  prevent  it  from  being  secretly  brought  on  shore. 

8.  A  short  time  was  then  allowed  for  the  captain  to 
prepare  to  return  home  with  his  cargo.     Governor  Hutch- 
inson  refused  to  grant  him  the  requisite  permission  to 
pass  the  castle..    Other  vessels,  laden  with  tea,  arrived. 
The  agitation  increased,  and  on  the  18th  of  December,  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston  and  the  adjoining  towns  assembled 
to  determine  what  course  should  be  pursued.     At  this 
important  meeting,  Josiah  Quincy,  desirous  that  the  con 
sequences  of  the  measures  to  be  adopted  should  be  first 
seriously  contemplated,  thus  addressed  his  fellow  citizens. 

9.  "  It  is  not,  Mr.  Moderator,  the  spirit  that  vapours 
within  these  walls  that  will  sustain  us  in  the  hour  of  need. 
The  proceedings  of  this  day  will  call  forth  events  which 
will  make  a  very  different  spirit  necessary  for  our  salvation. 
Whoever  supposes  that  shouts  and  hosannas  will  termi 
nate  our  trials,  entertains  a  childish  fancy.     We  must  be 
grossly  ignorant  of  the  value  of  the  prize  for  which  we 
contend ;  we  must  be  equally  ignorant  of  the  power  of 
those  who  have  combined  against  us ;  we  must  be  blind 
to  that  inveterate  malice  and   insatiable  revenge  which 
f.'Ct'jyte  our  enertfes.  albroad  and  in  ow  bosom,  to  nope  that 


142  REVOLUTION.  [177*. 

we  shall  end  this  controversy  without  the  sharpest  conflicts 
— or  to  flatter  ourselves  that  popular  resolves,  popular 
harangues,  and  popular  acclamations,  will  vanquish  our 
foes.  Let  us  consider  the  issue ;  let  us  look  to  the  end ; 
let  us  weigh  and  deliberate,  before  we  advance  to  those 
measures  which  must  bring  on  the  most  trying  and  terrible 
struggle  this  country  ever  saw." 

10.  In  the  evening  the  question  was  put,  "  Do  you  abide 
by  your  former  resolution  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  teal'* 
The  vote  was  unanimous  in  the  affirmative.  Application 
was  again  made  to  the  governor  for  a  pass.  After  a  short 
delay,  Ms  refusal  wTas  communicated  to  the  assembly. 
Instantly  a  person,  disguised  like  an  Indian,  gave  the  war 
whoop  from  the  gallery.  At  this  signal,  the  people  rushed 
out  of  the  house  and  hastened  to  the  wharves.  About 
twenty  persons,  in  the  dress  of  Mohawks,  boarded  the 
vessels,  and,  protected  by  the  crowd  on  shore,  broke  open 
three  hundred  and  forty-two  chests  of  tea  and  emptied 
their  contents  into  the  ocean.  Their  purpose  accomplished, 
the  multitude  returned  without  tumult  to  their  habitations. 

1L  These  proceedings  excited  the  anger  of  parliament 
and  the  displeasure  of  the  British  nation.  Punishment, 
not  a  change  of  measures,  was  resolved  upon.  An  act, 
closing  the  port  of  Boston,  and  removing  the  custom-house 
to  Salem,  wTas  passed,  and  was  to  continue  in  force  until 
compensation  should  be  made  for  the  tea  destroyed ;  ano 
ther  act  was  passed,  taking  from  the  general  court  and 
giving  to  the  crown  the  appointment  of  counsellors ;  and 
general  Gage  was  made  governor  in  the  place  of  Mr. 
Hutchinson. 

12.  Intelligence  of  the  Boston  port-bill  occasioned  a 
meeting  of  the  citizens  of  the  town ;  they  were  sensible 
that  "the  most  trying  and  terrible  struggle"  was  indeed 
now  approaching,  but  felt  unawed  by  its  terrors.     They 
sought  not  to  shelter  themselves  from  the  storm  by  sub 
mission,  but  became  more  resolute  as  it  increased.     They 
declared  the  act  to  be  unjust  and  inhuman,  and  invited 
their  brethren  in  the  other  colonies  to  unite  with  them  in 
a  general  non-importation  agreement. 

13.  A  similar  spirit  pervaded  and  animated  the  whole 
country.     Addresses  from  the  adjacent  towns,  and  from 
<?very  part  of  the  continent,  were  sent  to  the  citizens  of 
Boston,  applauding  their  resolution,  exhorting  them  to 
perseverance,  and  assuring  them  that  they  were  considered 
r*s  suffering  in  a  common  cause.     Jn  Virginia,  the  first  day 


1774.]  REVOLUTION.  MS 

of  June,  when  the  law  began  to  operate,  was  observed  as  a 
public  and  solemn  fast.  With  devout  feelings,  the  divine 
interposition  was  implored,  in  all  the  churches,  to  avert  the 
evils  of  civil  war,  and  to  give  to  the  people  one  heart  and 
one  mind,  firmly  to  oppose  every  invasion  of  their  liberty. 

14.  The  same  day  was  observed,  with  similar  solemnity, 
in  most  of  the  other  colonies;  and  thus  an  opportunity 
was  presented  to  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  to  dispenso 
political  instruction,  to  paint,  in  vivid  colors,  the  sufferings 
of  the  citizens  of  Boston,  and  to  warn  their  congregations, 
that,  should  Great  Britain  succeed  in  her  schemes,  the 
danger  to  their  religious  would  be  as  great  as  to  their  civil 
privileges  ;  that  a  tame  submission  to  the  will  of  parlia 
ment,  would  inevitably  be  followed  by  bishops,  tithes,  test 
acts,  and  ecclesiastical  tribunals. 

15.  The  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  were 
indeed  severe.      Nearly  all  were  compelled  to  be  idle. 
Many,  by  loss  of  employment,  lost  their  sole  means  of 
support.     In  this  extremity,  contributions  in  money  and 
provisions  were  forwarded  to  them  from  all  the  colonies, 
as  proofs  of  sympathy  in  their  distresses,  and  of  approba 
tion  of  their  having  met  arid  manfully  withstood  the  first 
shock  of  arbitrary  power. 

16.  Gradually  and  constantly  had  the  minds  and  feelings 
of  the  Americans  been  preparing  for  this  important  crisis. 
That  enthusiastic  patriotism  which  elevates  the  soul  above 
all  considerations  of  interest  or  danger  had  now  become 
their  ruling  passion.     The  inhabitants  of  Salem  spurned 
advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  punishment  inflicted  on 
a  sister  town,  for  its  zeal  in  a  sacred  and  common  cause. 
"  We  must,"  said  they,  in  a  remonstrance  to  the  governor, 
"  be  dead  to  every  idea  of  justice,  lost  to  all  feelings  of 
humanity ;  could  we  indulge  one  thought,  to  seize  on 
wealth,  and  raise  our  fortunes  from  the  ruin  of  our  suffer 
ing  neighbours." 

17.  In  June,  the  general  court  assembled  at  Salem,  and 
among  their  first  acts  were,  the  recommendation  of  a 
continental  congress,  which  had  been  suggested  by  the 
committee  of  correspondence  in  Virginia,  and  the  choice 
of  delegates  to  attend  it.     While  engaged,  with  closed 
doors,  in  this  business,  governor  Gage,  who  had  received 
a  private  intimation  of  their  purposes,  dissolved  the  court 
by  a  proclamation  which  was  read  upon  the  steps.     In 
all  the  other  colonies,  except  Georgia,  delegates  were  als^ 

-hosen. 


HI  REVOLUTION,  [1774: 

18.  On  the  5th  of  September,  these  delegates  met  at 
Philadelphia.    Peyton  Randolph,  of  Virginia,  was  unani 
mously  elected  president,  and  Charles  Thompson,  secre 
tary.     It  was  determined  that  each  colony  should  have  but 
one  vote,  whatever  might  be  the  number  of  its  deputies, 
and  that  all  their  transactions,  except  such  as  they  might 
resolve  to  publish,  should  be  kept  inviolably  secret. 

19.  Resolutions  were   then  adopted,  expressing   the 
sympathy  of  congress  in  the  sufferings  of  their  countrymen 
in  Massachusetts,  and  highly  approving  the  wisdom  and 
fortitude  of  their  conduct.     They  also  resolved  that  the 
importation  of  goods  from  Great  Britain  should  cease  on 
the  first  day  of  the  succeeding  December,  and  all  exports 
to  that  country  on  the  10th  of  September,  1775,  unless 
American  grievances  should  be  sooner  redressed.     These 
resolutions  possessed  no  legal  force,  but  never  were  laws 
more  faithfully  observed. 

20.  In  other  resolutions,  they  enumerated  certain  rights, 
which,  as  men  and  English  subjects,  "  they  claimed,  de 
manded,  and  insisted  on ;"  and  recounted  numerous  viola 
tions  of  those  rights  by  parliament.     Addresses  to  the 
people  of  Great  Britain,  to  the  inhabitants  of  Canada,  and 
to  their  constituents,  were  prepared  and  published;  and  an 
affectionate  petition  to  the  king  was  agreed  upon. 

21.  In  these  able  and  important  state  papers,  the  claims, 
principles,  and  feelings  of  their  constituents  are  clearly 
and  eloquently  set  forth.     They  glow  with  the  love  of 
liberty,  they  display  a  determination,  too  firm  to  be  shaken, 
to  defend  and  preserve  it  at  every  hazard ;  they  contain 
the  strongest  professions  of  attachment  to  the  mother 
country,  and  of  loyalty  to  the  king.     A  desire  of  indepen 
dence  is   expressly  disavowed.     "Place  us,"  says  the 
congress,  "  in  the  situation  we  were  in,  at  the  close  of 
the  last  war,  and  our  former  harmony  will  be  restored." 
"  We  ask,"  say  they  in  their  petition,  "but  for  peace, 
liberty,  and  safety.     We  wish  not  a  diminution  of  the 
prerogative,  nor  do  we  solicit  the  grant  of  any  new  right 
in  our  favor.     Your  royal  authority  over  us,  and  our  con 
nection  with  Great  Britain,  we  shall  always  carefully  and 
zealously  endeavour  to  support  and  maintain." 

22.  These  papers,  going  forth  to  the  world,  made  the 
cause  of  the  colonies  known  throughout  Europe,  and  con 
ciliated  those  who  had  embraced  liberal  principles  in 
politics,  or  felt  displeasure  at  the  pride  and  haughtiness  of 
.Britain.    Their  tone  of  manly  energy,  and  the  knowledge 


1774.]  DEVOLUTION.  145 

they  displayed  of  political  science,  excited  universal  ap 
plause  and  admiration. 

23.  "When  your  lordships,"    said   Mr.   Pitt,  in  the 
British  senate,  "  have  perused  the  papers  transmitted  to 
us  from  America ;  when  you  consider  the  dignity,  the 
firmness,  and  the  wisdom,  with  which  the  Americans 
have  acted,  you  cannot  but  respect  their  cause.     History, 
my  lords,  has  been  my  favorite  study ;  and  in  the  cele 
brated  writings  of  antiquity  I  have  often  admired  the 
patriotism  of  Greece  and  Rome ;  hut,  my  lords,  I  must 
declare  and  avow,  that  in  the  master  states  of  the  world, 
I  know  not  the  people  nor  the  senate,  who,  in  such  a 
complication  of  difficult  circumstances,  can  stand  in  pre 
ference  to  the  delegates  of  America  assembled,  in  general 
congress,  at  Philadelphia.     I  trust  that  it  is  obvious  to 
your  lordships,  that  all  attempts  to  impose  servitude  upon 
such  men,  to  establish  despotism  over  such  a  mighty 
continental  nation,  must  be  vain,  must  be  futile." 

24.  In  America,  the  proceedings  of  congress  were  read 
with  enthusiasm  and  veneration.     Their  reasonings  con 
firmed  the  conviction,  strongly  felt  by  nearly  the  whole 
people,  of  the  perfect  justice  of  their  cause.     In  the  ad 
dress  to  themselves,  they  were  admonished  "  to  extend 
their  views  to  mournful  events,  and  to  be  in  all  respects 
prepared   for   every  contingency."      Great  efforts  wero 
consequently  made  to  provide  arms  and. all  the  munitions 
of  war.     Independent  companies  were  formed  ;  voluntary 
trainings  were  frequent ;  the  old  and  the  young,  the  rich 
and  the  poor  devoted  their  hours  of  amusement  and  of 
leisure,  to  exercises  calculated  to  fit  them  to  act  a  part  iu 
the  anticipated  conflict.     The  country  was  alive  with  the 
bustle  of  preparation,  and  in  every  countenance  could  be 
read  the  expectation  of  important  transactions,  in  which 
ail  must  participate. 

25.  Complete  unanimity,  however,  did  not  exist.  Some 
of  the  late  emigrants  from  England,  the  most  of  thos^ 
who  held  offices  by  her  appointment,  many  whose  timidity 
magnified  her  power,  clung  to  her  authority,  and  as  the 
crisis   approached,-  declared  themselves   her  adherents. 
These  were  denominated  tories  ;  the  friends  of  liberty, 
whigs — names  by  which  the  advocates  of  arbitrary  power, 
and  the  friends  of  constitutional  liberty,  were  distinguished 
in  England. 

26.  General  Gage,  who  had  been  recently  appointed 
governor  of  Massachusetts,  withdrew,  from  other  yosto  c>c 


Mfc  REVOLUTION.  [17/5, 

the  continent,  several  regiments  of  troops,  and  encamped 
them  on  the  common,  in  Boston.  He  afterwards  erected 
fortifications  on  the  Neck,  a  narrow  isthmus  which  unites 
the  town  with  the  main  land ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  first 
of  Septemher,  he  seized  the  powder  deposited  in  the  pro 
vincial  arsenal  at  Cambridge. 

27.  The  people,  meanwhile,  were  not  idle.     They  ap 
pointed   delegates   to  a  provincial   congress,  which  as 
sembled  in  the  beginning  of  October.     Mr.  Hancock  was 
chosen  president,  and  the  delegates  resolved,  that,  for  the 
defence  of  the  province,  a  military  force,  to  consist  of  ono 
fourth  of  the  militia,  should  be  organized  and  stand  ready 
to  march  at  a  minute's  warning;  that  money  should  bo 
raised  to  purchase  military  stores ;  and  they  appointed  a 
committee  of  supplies,  and  a  committee  of  safety,  to  sit 
during  the  recess. 

28.  The  more  southern  provinces,  particularly  Pennsyl 
vania,  Virginia,  and  Maryland,  displayed  the  same  love  of 
liberty  and  determination  to  resist ;  provincial  congresses 
•were   convened,  committees   appointed,  and  resolutions 
passed,  designed  and  adapted  to  animate  those  who,  in 
Massachusetts,  stood  in  the  post  of  danger,  and  to  excite 
in  all  hearts  that  devotion  to  .country  which  is  alone 
capable  of  sustaining  a  people  in  an  arduous  struggle  with 
a  superior  foe. 

29.  In   the   parliament  of   Great   Britain,   American 
affairs  came  on  to  be  discussed,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1775.     Several  plans  of  conciliation  were  brought 
forward  by  the  opposition  and  rejected  ;  but  one,  propo.^d 
by  lord  North,  the  prime  minister,  was  adopted.     The 
purport  of  it  was,  that  if  any  colony  would  engage  to 
contribute  a  sum  satisfactory  to  his  majesty,  for  the  com 
mon  defence,  the  parliament  would  forbear  to  tax  that 
colony,  so  long  as  the  contribution  wras  punctually  paid. 
This  plan  conceded  nothing.     To  weaken  the  colonies  by 
dividing  them  was  so  evidently  the  object,  that  all  in 
dignantly  spurned  the  proffered  terms. 

30.  In  connection  with  this  conciliatory  proposition,  as- 
it  was  called,  measures  of  punishment  and  intimidation 
were   adopted.      The  northern  colonies  were  prohibited 
from  fishing  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  additional 
iestrictions  were  imposed  upon  the  trade  of  all  of  them,, 
and  several  ships  of  the  line,  and  ten  thousand  troops, 
were  sent  to  America. 

31.  In  the  debates  in  parliament,  the  friends  of  the 


1775.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  147 

Colonies,  although  few,  were  animated  in  their  praise  ancl 
eloquent  in  their  defence.  The  adherents  of  the  ministry 
indulged  in  the  grossest  abuse  and  ridicule.  The  Ameri 
cans,  they  said,  were  naturally  cowards,  habitually  lazy, 
and  constitutionally  feeble  ;  they  were  incapable  of  disci 
pline;  and  a  small  force  would  be  sufficient  to  conquer 
them.  This  ignorance  of  their  character,  which  was 
general  throughout  England,  doubtless  caused  the  ministry 
to  persist  in  measures  which,  had  their  information  been 
correct,  they  would  never  have  ventured  to  undertake. 

32.  On  the  evening  of  the  18th  of  April,  general  Gage 
despatched  from  Boston  a  body  of  eight  hundred  troops,  to 
destroy  a  quantity  of  provisions  and  military  stores  de 
posited,  by  the  committee  of  supplies,  at  Concord.     Intel 
ligence  of  this   movement  was  sent   to  Lexington  ancl 
Concord  a  few  hours  before  the  troops  embarked.     The 
ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  signal  guns  brought  the 
minute-men  together.     Early  the  next  morning,  those  of 
Lexington  assembled  on  the  green  near  the  meeting-house. 
A  few  minutes  afterwards,  the  advanced  body  of  the  regu 
lars  approached  within  musket  shot.      Major  Pitcairn, 
riding  forward,  exclaimed,  "  Disperse,  you  rebels,  throw 
down   your  arms  and  disperse."      Not  being  instantly 
obeyed,  he  discharged  his  pistol  and  ordered  his  men  to 
fire.   They  fired  and  killed  several.    The  militia  dispersed ; 
but  the  firing  continued.     In  the  whole,  eight  were  killed, 
some  of  whom  were  shot  in  their  concealment  behind  the 
fences. 

33.  The  detachment  proceeded  to  Concord.  Themimite- 
men  of  that  town  had  also  assembled ;  but,  being  few  in 
number,  they  retired  on  the  approach  of  the  regulars. 
These  entered  the  town  and  destroyed  the  provisions  and 
stores.     The  minute-men  were  reinforced  and  advanced 
again  towards  the  regulars.     A  skirmish  ensued,  in  which 
captain  Davis,  of  Acton,  was  killed.     The  British  troops 
were  compelled  to  retreat,  leaving  behind  them  several 
killed  and  wounded. 

34.  The  whole  country  was  now  in  arms,  and  the  troops 
retreated  with* precipitation.     The  militia  not  only  pressed 
upon  their  rear,  but  placed  themselves  singly  behind  trees 
jiud  stone  walls,  arid,  from  these  secure  coverts,  fired  upon 
them  as  they  passed.     At  Lexington  they  met  a  reinforce 
ment  under  lord  Percy,  which  general  Gage  had  despatched 
uu  receiving  information  of  the  occurrences  there  in  tins 
^nojrttiug. 


148  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1775. 

35.  After  resting  a  moment,  the  whole  body  proceeded 
towards  Boston.     In  their  progress  they  were  more  and 
more  harassed  hy  the  provincials,  whose  number  hourly 
increased,  and  who  became  in  proportion  more  adventurous. 
Having  an  intimate  knowledge  of  all  the  roads,  they  could 
pursue  with  less  fatigue,  and  meet  the  enemy  unexpectedly 
at  the  various  windings ;  and  being  all  experienced  marks 
men,  their  shots  seldom  failed  of  effect.     At  sunset,  the 
regulars,   almost   overcome   with   fatigue,   passed  along 
Charlestown  Neck,  and  found,  on  Bunker's  Hill,  a  place 
of  security  and  repose. 

36.  In  this  engagement,  sixty-five  of  the  royal  forces 
were  killed,  one  hundred  and  eighty  wounded,  and  twenty- 
eight  made  prisoners.    Of  the  provincials,  fifty  were  kille'd, 
thirty-four  were  wounded,  and  four  were  missing.     The 
killed  were  lamented  and  honored  as  the  first  martyrs  in 
the  cause  of  liberty.     In  the  various  sections  of  country 
from  which  they  came,  hatred  of  Great  Britain  took  still 
deeper  root ;  and  New- England,  connected  more  than  any 
other  part  of  the  world,  as  one  great  family,  by  the  closest 
intimacy  of  all  the  inhabitants,  universally  felt  the  depri 
vation  with  a  mixed  feeling  of  sorrow  and  rage. 

37.  Intelligence  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  spread  rapidly 
through  Massachusetts,  and  the  adjoining  provinces.    The 
i'armer  left  his  plough  in  the  furrow,  the  mechanic  dropped 
the  utensil  in  his  hand,  and  seizing  their  arms,  all  hastened 
to  the  environs  of  Boston.     In  a  few  days,  a  large  army 
was  assembled,  which,  under  the  command  of  general 
Ward,  of  Massachusetts,  and  general  Putnam,  of  Connec 
ticut,  closely  invested  the  town,  and  alarmed  general  Gage 
for  the  safety  of  his  garrison. 

38.  In  the  remoter  provinces,  the  intelligence  was  con 
sidered  of  solemn  and  alarming  import.     The  great  drama 
was  opened,  and  the  part  which  each  should  take  must 
immediately  be  chosen.     By  many  a  resort  to  arms  had 
never  been  anticipated.     To  them,  the  decision  was  more 
painful ;  but  all  the  colonies,  except  Georgia,  adopted  at 
once  the  heroic  resolution  to  unite  their  fortunes  with 
those  of  New-England. 

30.  Connecticut  had  poured  forth  her  fall  proportion  of 
hardy  yeomanry  to  man  the  lines  around  Boston  ;  but 
several,  who  remained  at  home,  conceived  the  project  of 
surprising  Ticonderoga,  a  fortified  post  on  the  western 
shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  ami  commanding  the  entrance 
into  Canada.  They  communicated  their  design  to  colors! 


1775.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  149. 

Ethan  Allen,  of  Vermont,  who,  upon  their  arrival  at  Cas  • 
tleton  with  forty  men,  met  them  there  at  the  head  of  two 
hundred  and  thirty  Green  Mountain  boys.  The  next  day, 
captain  Benedict  Arnold,  of  Connecticut,  who,  upon  the 
first  alarm,  had  hastened  to  Boston,  arrived  from  that 
place,  having  conceived  the  same  project  and  been  autho 
rized,  by  the  committee  of  safety  in  Massachusetts,  to 
undertake  it. 

40.  Allen  and  Arnold,  at  the  head  of  the  Green  Mountain 
boys,  hastened  to  Ticonderoga,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
party  to  Skeensborough.     On  the  night  of  the  ninth  of 
May,  about  eighty,  all  that  the  boats  could  carry,  crossed 
the  lake,  "and,  at  dawn  of  day,  landed  near  the  fortress. 
They  advanced  to  the  gateway.     A  sentinel  snapped  his 
Xusee  at  colonel  Allen  and  retreated.     The  Americans, 
following,  found  the  commander  in  bed.     Colonel  Allen 
demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fort.     "  By  what  authority 
do  you  demand  it  ?"    "  In  the  name,"  replied  Allen,  "  of 
the  Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress."     The 
British  officer,  having  but  fifty  men,  saw  that  resistance 
would  be  vain,  and  agreed  to  surrender. 

4 1.  When  the  remainder  of  the  party  arrived,  they  were 
despatched)  under  colonel  Seth  Warner,  to  take  possession 
of  Crown  Point ;  and  Arnold,  hastily  manning  a  schooner, 
sailed  to  capture  a  sloop  of  war  lying  at  the  outlet  of  tho 
lake.     These  two  expeditions,  as  well  as  that  against 
Skeensborough,  were  successful ;  and  thus  was  obtained, 
without  bloodshed,  the  command  of  those  important  posts, 
together  with  more  than  one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon, 
and  other  munitions  of  war.     The  unexpected  news  of 
this  brilliant  success  imparted  high  courage  and  animation 
to  the  Americans. 

42.  Most  of  the  militia,  who  had  repaired  to  Boston, 
returned  soon  after  to  their  homes,  but  a  sufficient  number 
remained,  posted  near  the  Neck,  to  prevent  the  British 
from  leaving  the  town  by  land.     Between  detachments 
from  these  and  parties  of  regulars,  who  were  often  sent  ti* 
collect  forage  on  the  islands  in  the  harbor,  frequent  skir 
mishes  took  place,  in  most  of  which  the  Americans  were 
successful. 

43.  In  the  beginning  of  June,  several  transports,  filial 
with  troops,  commanded  by  generals  Howe,  Clinton,  anrf 
Burgoyne,  arrived  from  England,  and  general  Gage  began 
to  act  with  more  decision  and  vigor.     He  issued  a  proela- 
}j)ation  declaring  those  in  arms,  and  all  who  aided  them. 

V    9 


i50  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1775. 

yebels  and  traitors,  and  threatened  to  punish  them  as  such, 
unless  they  immediately  returned  to  their  peaceful  occu 
pations.  He  promised  his  majesty's  pardon  to  all  who 
should  in  this  manner  give  proof  of  their  repentance  arid 
Amendment,  excepting  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock, 
whose  crimes,  he  alleged,  were  too  flagitious  to  admit  of 
pardon. 

44.  This  proclamation,  arid  the  arrival  of  the  troops,  far 
from  dismaying,  aroused  the  people  to  greater  activity  and 
watchfulness.    Again  the  militia  assembled  and  surrounded 
Boston.  Unwilling  to  endure  the  inconvenience  and  disgrace 
of  this  confinement,  general  Gage  made  preparation  to 
penetrate,  with  a  portion  of  his  army,  into  the  country. 
To  prevent  this,  the  provincial  generals  resolved  to  occupy 
Bunker's  Hill,  an  eminence  in  Charlestown,  situated  on  a 
peninsula  that  approaches  near  to  Boston. 

45.  On  the  evening  of  the  16th  of  June,  a  thousand  men. 
under  the  «-ommand  of  colonel  Prescot,  of  Massachusetts, 
colonel  S^ark,  from  New-Hampshire,  and  captain  Knowlton, 
from  Connecticut,  were  despatched  on  this  service.    They 
were  conducted,  by  mistake,  to  Breed's  Hill,  which  was 
nearer  to  the  water  and  to  Boston,  than  Bunker's.     At 
twelve  o'clock  they  began  to  throw  up  entrenchments, 
and  by  dawn  of  day,  had  completed  a  redoubt  eight  rods 
square.     As  soon  as  they  were  discovered,  they  were  fired 
upon  from  a  ship  of  war  and  several  floating  batteries  lying 
near,  and  from  a  fortification  in  Boston  opposite  the  redoubt. 
The  Americans,  nevertheless,  encouraged  by  general  Put 
nam,  who  often  visited  them  on  the  hill,  continued  to  labor 
until  they  had  finished  a  slight  breastwork  extending  from 
the  redoubt  eastward  to  the  water.     And  in  the  morning 
they  received  a  reinforcement  of  five  hundred  men. 

46.  The  temerity  of  the  provincials  astonished   and 
incensed  general  Gage,  and  he  determined  to  drive  them 
immediately  from  their  position.     About  noon,  a  body  of 
three  thousand  regulars,  commanded  by  general  Howe, 
left  Boston  in  boats  and  landed  in  Charlestown,  at  the 
extreme  point  of  the  peninsula.     Generals  Clinton  and 
Burgoyne  took  their  station  on  an  eminence  in  Boston, 
commanding  a  distinct  view  of  the  hill.     The  spires  of 
the  churches,  the  roofs  of  the  houses,  and  all  the  heights, 
in  thfe  neighborhood  Avere  covered  with  people,  waiting, 
in  dreadful  anxiety,  to  witness  the  approaching  battle. 

37.  The   regulars,   forming   at   the  place   of  landing, 
^hed  slowly  up  the  hill,  halting  frequently  to  allow 


1775.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  151 

3ime  to  the  artillery  to  demolish  the  works.  While  ad 
vancing,  the  village  of  Charlestown,  containing  ahont  four 
hundred  houses,  was  set  on  fire  by  order  of  general  Gage. 
The  flames  ascended  to  a  lofty  height,  presenting  a  sublime 
and  magnificent  spectacle.  The  Americans  reserved  their 
fire  until  the  British  were  within  ten  rods  of  the  redoubt ; 
then,  taking  a  steady  aim,  they  began  a  furious  discharge. 
Kntire  ranks  of  the  assailants  fell.  The  enemy  halted 
and  returned  the  fire ;  but  that  from  the  redoubt  continuing 
incessant  and  doing  great  execution,  they  retreated  in  haste 
and  disorder  down  the  hill,  some  even  taking  refuge  in 
their  boats. 

48.  The  officers  were  seen  running  hither  and  thither, 
collecting,  arranging  and  addressing  their  men,  who  were 
at  length  induced  again  to  ascend  the  hill.     The  Ameri 
cans  now  reserved  their  fire  until  the  enemy  had  approached 
even  nearer  than  before,  when  a  tremendous  volley  was 
at  once  poured  upon  them.    Terrified  by  the  carnage  around 
them,  they  again  recreated  with  precipitation,  and  such 
was  the  panic  that  general  Howe  was  left  almost  alone 
on  the  hill  side,  his  troops  having  deserted  him  and  nearly 
every  officer  around  him  being  killed. 

49.  At  this  moment,  general  Clinton,  who  had  observed 
from  Boston  the  progress  of  the  battle,  feeling  that  British 
honor  was  at  stake,  hastened  with  a  reinforcement  to  the 
assistance  of  his  countrymen.    By  his  exertions,  the  troops 
were  a  third  time  rallied,  and  were  compelled  by  the  offi 
cers,  who  marched  behind  them  with  drawn  swords,  to 
advance  again  towards  the  Americans.     The  fire  from  the 
ships  and  batteries  was  redoubled,  and  a  few  pieces  of 
cannon  had  been  so  placed  as  to  rake  the  interior  of  the 
breastwork  from  end  to  end. 

50.  The  provincials,  having  expended  their  ammunition, 
nwaited  in  silence  the  approach  of  the  regulars.     The 
latter   entered    the    redoubt.      The   former,   having    no 
bayonets,  defended  themselves,  for  a  short  time,  with  the. 
•butt  end  of  their  muskets.      From  this  unequal  contest 
they  were  soon  compelled  to  retire.     As  they  retreated 
over  Charlestown  Neck,  the  fire  from  the  floating  batte 
ries  was  incessant ;  but,  providentially,  a  few  only  were 
killed.     The  enemy  had  sustained  too  much  injury  to  think 
of  pursuit. 

51.  In  this  desperate  and  bloody  conflict,  the  royal  forces 
consisted,  as  has  been  stated,  of  three  thousand  men,  and 
vthe  provincial?:  of  but  fifteen  hundred.    Of  the  former,  one 


I«VJ  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR,  [1775. 

thousand  and  fifty-four  were  killed  and  wounded;  of  the 
}atter,  four  hundred  and  fifty-three.  This  disparity  of 
Joss,  the  steadiness  and  bravery  displayed  by  their  recent, 
undisciplined  levies,  occasioned  among  the  Americans  the 
highest  exultation,  and,  in  their  view,  more  than  counter 
balanced  the  loss  of  position.  If  this  is  a  British  victory, 
how  many  such  victories,  they  triumphantly  asked,  can 
their  army  achieve  without  ruin  ? 

52.  But  deep  and  heart-felt  sorrow  was  intermingled 
with   their  rejoicings.     Among  the   killed,  was   doctor 
AVarren,  a  patriot,  who,  at  an  early  period,  had  espoused 
with  warmth  the  cause  of  freedom ;  who  had  displayed 
great  intrepridity  in  several  skirmishes;   had   four  days 
before  been  elected  mnjor-general ;  and  had,  on  the  fatal 
day,  hastened  to  the  field  of  battle,  to  serve  his  country 
as  a  volunteer.     For  his  many  virtues,  his  elegant  manners, 
his  generous  devotion  to  his  country,  his  high  attainments 
in  political  science,  he  was  beloved  and  respected  by  Ids 
republican  associates;  and  to  him  their  affections  pointed, 
as  a  future  leader,  in  a  cause  dear  to  their  hearts,  and 
intimately  connected  with  their  glory. 

53.  In  the  midst  of  these  military  transactions,  a  conli- 
nental  congress  assembled  at  Philadelphia.     It  comprised 
delegates  from  twelve  colonies,  all  of  whom  were  animated 
with  a  determined  spirit  of  opposition  to  parliamentary 
taxation.     A  majority,  however,  had  not  yet  formed  the 
hardy  resolution  to  separate  from  the  mother  country,  and 
aim  at  independence.     The  measures  partook  of  the  oppo 
site  feelings  of  the  members.    Mr.  Hancock,  the  proscribed 
patriot,  was  chosen  president ;  they  resolved  that  another 
humble  petition  for  redress  of  grievances,  should  be  pre 
sented  to  the  king ;  but  they  also  resolved  that  means  of 
defence  should  be  immediately  prepared,  and  proceeded  to 
the  choice  of  officers  to  command  their  united  forces. 

54.  To  induce  the  friends  of  liberty  in  the  southern 
provinces,  to  embark  more  warmly  in  the  cause  of  resist 
ance,  the  northern  delegates  determined   to  give  their 
suffrages,  for  a  commander-in-chief,  to  a  person  residing 
in  that  quarter.     Fortunately,  one  was  found  eminently 
qualified  for  the  office.    By  unanimous  vote  of  the  congress, 
GEORGE  WASHINGTON,  then  present  as  delegate  from  Vir 
ginia,  was  elected.     He  had  served,  with  high  reputation, 
in  the  late  war  with  France ;  was  distinguished  in  his 
native   province  for  his   military  knowledge,  his  great 
ivoalth,  the  dignity  of  his  deportment,  his  unsuspected 


1775.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  153 

integrity,  and  his  ardent  attachment  to  the  interests  of  his 
country. 

55.  The  president  addressing  him  in  his  seat,  announced 
to  him  the  choice  which  the  congress  had  made.    Wash 
ington  declared  his  acceptance  with  a  diffidence  which 
gave  to  his  great  talents  a  brighter  lustre  ;  and   assured 
congress  that,  as  no  pecuniary  compensation  could  have 
tempted  him  to  accept  the  office,  at  the  sacrifice  of  his 
domestic  ease  and  happiness,  he  would  receive  no  pay,  and 
would  ask  only  the  remuneration  of  his  expenses.     Arte- 
mas  Ward,  Charles  Lee,  Philip  Schuyler,  and  Israel  Put 
nam,  were  then  chosen  major-generals,  and  Horatio  Gates 
adjutant-general.    Lee  had  lately  held  the  office  of  colonel, 
and  Gates  that  of  major,  in  the  British  army. 

56.  Congress  also  resolved  that,  for  defraying  the  ex 
penses  which  might  he  incurred,  bills  of  credit,  or  paper 
money,  to  the  amount  of  three  millions  of  dollars,  should 
be  issued,  and  pledged  the  colonies  for  their  redemption. 
A  solemn  and   dignified   declaration,  setting   forth   the 
causes  and  necessity  of  taking  up  arms,  was  prepared  to 
be  published  to  the  army  in  orders,  and  to  the  people  from 
the  pulpit.     After  particularizing  the  aggressions  of  Great 
Britain,  with  the  energy  of  men  feeling  unmerited  injury, 
they  exclaim : 

57.  "  But  why  should  we  enumerate  our  injuries  in  de 
tail  ]     By  one  statute  it  is  declared  that  parliament  can  of 
right  make  laws  to  bind  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever.    What 
is  to  defend  us  against  so  enormous,  so  unlimited  a  power? 
Not  a  single  man  of  those  who  assume  it,  was  chosen  by 
us,  or  is  subject  to  our  control  or  influence ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  they  are  all  of  them  exempt  from  the  operation 
of  such  laws,  and  an  American  revenue,  if  not  diverted 
from  the  ostensible  purposes  for  which  it  is  raised,  would 
actually  lighten  their  own  burdens,  in  proportion  as  it  in 
creases  ours.     We  saw  the  misery  to  which  such  despot 
ism  would  reduce  us.     We,  for  ten  years,  incessantly  and 
ineffectually  besieged  the  throne  as  supplicants ;  we  rea 
soned,  we  remonstrated  with  parliament  in  the  most  mild 
and.  decent,  language. 

58.  "  We  are  now  reduced  to  the  alternative  of  choosing 
an  unconditional  submission  to  the  will  of  irritated  minis 
ters,  or  resistance  by  force.     The  latter  is  our  choice* 
We  have  counted  the  cost  of  this  contest,  and  find  nothing 
so  dreadful   as   voluntary  slavery.     Honor,  justice,  and 

M;mnnitv  forbid  us  tamoU-  to  surrender  that  freedom  which 


Io4  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1775. 

we  received  from  our  gallant  ancestors,  and  which  our 
innocent  posterity  have  a  right  to  receive  from  us.  We 
cannot  endure  the  infamy  and  guilt  of  resigning  succeeding 
generations  to  that  wretchedness  which  inevitably  awaits 
them  if  we  basely  entail  hereditary  bondage  upon  them. 

59.  "  Our  cause  is  just ;  our  union  is  perfect.     Our 
internal  resources  are  great ;  and,  if  necessary,  foreign 
assistance  is  undoubtedly  attainable.     We  gratefully  ac 
knowledge,  as  a  signal  instance  of  the  divine  favor  towards 
us,  that  his  providence  would-  not  permit  us  to  be  called 
inlo  this  severe  controversy,  until  we  were  grown  up  to 
our  present  strength,  had  been  previously  exercised  in  war 
like  operations,  and  possessed  the  means  of  defending 
ourselves. 

60.  "  With  hearts  fortified  by  these  animating  reflections, 
we  most  solemnly,  before  God  and  the  world,  DECLARE,  that 
exerting  the  utmost  energy  of  those  powers,  which  our 
beneficent  Creator  hath  graciously  bestowed,  the  arms  we 
have  been  compelled  by  our  enemies  to  assume,  we  will, 
in  defiance  of  every  hazard,  with  unabating  firmness  and 
perseverance,  employ  for  the  preservation  of  our  liberties, 
being,  with  one  mind,  resolved  to  die  freemen  rather  than 
to  live  slaves." 

61.  Soon  after  his  election,  general  Washington,  accom 
panied  by  general  Lee,  and  several  other  gentlemen,  set 
out  for  the  camp  at  Cambridge.     In  every  place  through 
which  he  passed,  he  received  the  highest  honors.  A  com 
mittee  from  the  provincial  congress  of  Massachusetts,  met 
him  at  Springfield,  and  conducted  him  to  head-quarters, 
where  another  committee  presented  him  a  respectful  and 
affectionate  address. 

62.  He  found  the  army,  consisting  of  fourteen  thousand 
men,  posted  on  the  heights  around  Boston,  forming  a  line 
which  extended  from  Roxbury  on  the  right,  -to  the  river 
Mystic  on  the  left,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.     The 
troops  were  ardently  devoted  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  but 
destitute  of  discipline,  averse  to  subordination,  without 
powder,  without  tents,  and  without  most  of  the  conveni 
ences  usually  provided  for  regular  armies. 

63.  With  the  assistance  of  general  Gates,  he  introduced 
some  degree  of  regularity  and  system.    Several  barrels  of 
powder  were  obtained  from  New-.lersey,  and  captain  Manly, 
commander  of  the  privateer  Lee,  captured  an  ordnance 
ship,  containing  arms,  ammunition,  and  a  complete  assort 
ment  of  such  working  tools  as  were  most  needed  in  the 


T1775.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  153 

American  camp.  This  providential  capture  was  followed 
by  others  which  supplied  the  most  pressing  wants  of  the 
army,  enabled  it  to  continue,  through  the  year,  the  block 
ade  of  Boston,  and  contributed  greatly  to  distress  the 
enemy,  for  whose  use  the  cargoes  were  destined. 

64.  Events  occuring  this  year,  in  the  southern  colonies, 
still  farther  weakened  the  attachment  of  the  people  to 
Great  Britain.     In  Virginia,  Lord  Dunmore,  the  governor, 
seized  by  night,  some  powder  belonging  to  the  colony,  and 
conveyed  it  on  board  a  British  ship  in  James  river.  Intel 
ligence  of  this  transaction  reaching  Patrick  Henry,  he 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  independent  companies 
in  his  vicinity,  and  marched  towards  the  seat  of  govern 
ment,  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  obtaining,  by  force, 
restitution  of  the  powder,  or  its  value.     He  was  met  by  a 
messenger,  who  paid  him  the  value  of  the  powder,  when 
he  and  the  militia  returned  to  their  homes. 

65.  Alarmed  by  this  display  of  spirit  and  patriotism, 
lord  Dunmore  fortified  his  palace.     From  this  castle,  he 
issued  a  proclamation  charging  Henry  and  his  associates 
with  rebellious  practices,  which  offended  the  people,  who 
highly  approved  their  conduct.     Other  causes  increasing 
the  popular  ferment,  he  quitted  his  palace,  and  repaired  to 
u  ship  of  war  then  lying  at  Yorktown. 

66.  In  November,  he  issued  another  proclamation,  offer 
ing  freedom  to  those  slaves  belonging  to  rebel  masters,  who 
should  join  his  majesty's  troops  at  Yorktown.     Several 
hundred,  in  consequence,  repaired  to  that  place.     A  body 
of  militia  immediately  assembled,  and,  while  posted  near 
the  city,  were  attacked,  with  great  bravery,  by  the  regulars, 
royalists,  and  negroes.     The  militia,  repelling  the  attack 
with  equal  bravery,  gained  a  decisive  victory.     Lord  Dun- 
more  then  evacuated  the  city,  and,  followed  by  his  white 
and  black  forces,  sought  refuge  on  board  the  ships  of  his 
majesty.    Soon  after,  Norfolk,  set  on  fire  by  his  order,  was 
mostly  consumed,  and  its  destruction  was  completed  by  the 
provincials,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  deriving  supplies 
from  that  quarter. 

67.  The  governor  of  North-Carolina,  following  the  ex 
ample  of  lord  Dunmore,  fortified  his  palace  at  Newbern. 
This  caused  a  commotion  among  the  people,  which  induced 
him  to  retire  on  board  a  ship  in  the  harbor.     While  there, 
he  made  zealous  exertions  to  organize  a  party  in  favor  of 
7  he  royal  cause ;  and  a  band  of  Scotch  Highlanders,  settled 
in  tins  interior  cronntry.  3 1. stoned  to  his  uerssasions.    Or. 


jot;  REVOLUTIONARY  WAU.        [1775, 

their  march  to  the  sea  coast,  they  were  met  by  a  party  of 
militia,  who  attacked  and  dispersed  them.  This  early 
victory  secured  the  predominance  of  the  whigs,  and  crushed 
the  hopes  and  spirits  of  the  tories. 

08.  South-Carolina  had  always,  with  great  unanimity 
and  zeal,  resisted  parliamentary  taxation  ;  and  soon  after 
the  battle  of  Lexington,  the  governor,  lord  William  Camp 
bell,  apprehensive  of  danger  to  his  person,  retired  from 
the  province.  In  July,  Georgia  chose  delegates  to  the 
continental  congress,  increasing  to  THIRTEEN  the  number 

()f  the  UNITED  COLONIES. 

69.  The  province  of  New- York  contained  many  warm 
advocates  for  freedom ;  but  its  capital  had  so  long  been 
the  head-quarters  of  the  British  army  in  America,  that 
many  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  having  contracted  inti 
mate  relations  with  British  officers,  had  become  devoted 
to  the  royal  cause.  The  assembly,  acting  under  their  influ 
ence,  declined  to  choose  delegates  to  the  continental  con 
gress  held  in  May,  1775 ;  but  the  people,  a  majority  of 
whom  were  actuated  by  different  feelings,  elected  a  pro 
vincial  congress,  by  whom  those  delegates  were  chosen. 

70.  When  intelligence  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  reach 
ed  the  city,  captain  Scars,  an  active  and  intrepid  leader  of 
the  "  sons  of  liberty,"  took  effectual  measures  to  prevent 
vessels  bound  to  ports  in  Amerca,  where  the  royal  cause 
prevailed,  from  sailing.     An  association  was  also  formed, 
consisting  of  one  thousand  of  the  principal  inhabitants, 
who  bound  themselves  to  assist  in  carrying  into  execution 
whatever  measure  might  be  recommended,  by  the  conti 
nental  congress,  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the  oppressive- 
acts  of  the  British  parliament. 

71.  The  ministry,  desirous  of  retaining  in  obedience 
this  important  colony,  appointed  Mr.  Tryon,  to  be  governor 
over  it.     He  had  before  filled  the  same  office  ;  was  a  man 
of  address,  and  greatly  beloved  by  the  people.     He  came 
fully  empowered  to  gain  adherents  by  dispensing  promises 
and  money  at  his  discretion.     The  success  of  his  intrigues 
alarmed  congress,  who,  having  particular  reference  to  him, 
recommended  that  "  all  persons  whose  going  at  large  might 
endanger  the  liberties  o/  America,  should  be  arrested  and 
secured."     Gaining  early  intelligence   of  this,   he   also 
sought  refuge  on  board  a  ship  in  the  harbor. 

72.  Although  the  autumn  of  1775  was  not  distinguished: 
liy  any  brilliant  exploit,  yet  the  time  of  congress  and  of 
the  commander-in-chiefj  was  not  unprofitably  employed, 


1776.]          REVOLUTIONARY  WAK.  157 

Constant  attention  was  paid  to  the  discipline  of  the  troops  ; 
arrangements  were  made  to  obtain  a  supply  of  military 
stores ;  the  building  and  equipment  of  a  naval  force  was 
commenced ;  two  expeditions  were  organized  and  des 
patched  against  Canada,  one  by  the  way  of  lake  Champlain, 
the  other  of  the  river  Kennebeck;  and  general  Lee,  with 
twelve  hundred  volunteers  from  Connecticut,  was  directed 
to  proceed  to  New- York,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  inhabi 
tants,  fortify  the  city  and  the  highlands. 

73.  The  abolition  of  all  legal  authority  in  the  colonies 
was  an  evil  for  which,  though  less  than  had  been  antici 
pated,  it  was  yet  expedient  to  provide  a  remedy.     New- 
Hampshire  applied  to  congress  for  advice  on  tins  subject. 
A  favorable  opportunity  was  thus  presented  to  the  zealous 
patriots  in  congress,  to  propose  a  remedy  for  the  evil, 
which  should,  at  the  same  time,  exhibit  in  practice  the 
fundamental   principle  of  their  political  creed,  that  all 
legitimate  authority  must  be  derived  from  the  people;  and 
should  also  prepare  the  way  for  their  darling  object,  a 
declaration  of  independence. 

74.  A  resolution  was  introduced,  recommending  that  a 
convention  of  representatives,  freely  elected  by  the  people 
of  that  colony,  should  be  called,  for  the  purpose  of  estab 
lishing  such  a  form  of  government  as  they  might  deem 
proper.     It  was  warmly  opposed  by  those  members  who 
were  yet  desirous  of  an  accommodation  with  the  mother 
country.     An  amendment  being  made,  providing  that  tho 
government  established  should  continue  in  force  no  longer 
than  the  existing  contest  with  Great  Britain,  the  resolu 
tion  passed.     Representatives  were  accordingly  chosen* 
v/ho,  on  the  5th  of  January,  1776,  adopted  a  w*ritten  con 
stitution,  acknowledging  no  source  of  power  but  the  peo 
ple.    In  other  colonies,  the  same  course  was  soon  after- 
wards  pursued. 

75.  A  transaction,  displaying  the  vindictive  feelings  of 
the  British,  occurred  in  October.    The  ministry  had  issued, 
orders  to  the  officers  of  the  navy  to  proceed,  as  in  tho 
case  of  actual  rebellion,  against  all  the  colonial  seaports 
accessible  to  ships  of  Avar,  wrhich  should  discover  symp 
toms  of  attachment  to  the  cause  of  liberty.     Fahnouth,  a 
nourishing  town  in  Massachusetts,  having  given  some 
particular  offence,  its  destruction,  under  color  of  these 
orders,  was  resolved  on,  and  captain  MowTatt,  with  four 
v":l<ips,  was  despatched  on  that  service. 

7t».  The  citizens  made  an  effort,  hy  negotiation,  to  nvfirt 


IDS  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [ITTC,/ 

their  ruin ;  but  as  the  terms  which  were  offered  could  not 
be  accepted  without  dishonor,  they  were  at  once  rejected. 
The  bombardment  immediately  commenced,  the  town  was 
set  on  fire,  and  four  hundred  buildings  reduced  to  ashes. 
This  wanton  act  of  devastation  was  strongly  reprobated 
throughout  America,  and  served  to  inflame,  rather  than  to 
intimidate,  the  people.  The  town  has  since  been  rebuilt, 
its  name  changed  to  Portland,  and  it  is  now  the  capital  of 
Maine. 

77.  As  the  year  1775  drew  near  to  a  close,  the  condition 
of  the  army,  employed  in  the  blockade  of  Boston,  engaged 
the  attention  of  congress.     A  speedy  adjustment  of  the 
dispute  being  at  first  expected,  the  men  had  been  enlisted 
to  serve  only  until  the  first  of  January.     No  prospect  now 
appeared  of  an  immediate  accommodation.     It  was  there 
fore  resolved  to  form  a  new  army,  to  consist  of  twenty 
thousand  men,  and  to  be  raised,  as  far  as  practicable,  from 
the  troops  then  in  service.     Unfortunately  it  was  deter 
mined,  that  the  enlistments  should  be  made  for  one  year 
only,  an  error  the  consequences  of  which  were  afterwards 
very  severely  felt. 

78.  It  was  supposed  that  most  of  those  whom  patriotism 
had  impelled  to  join  the  army,  would   continue  in  the 
service  of  their  country;  but  when  the  experiment  was 
made,  it  was  found  that   their   ardor   had  considerably 
ubated.    The  blockade  of  Boston  presented  no  opportunity 
of  acquiring  glory,  by  deeds  of  noble  daring ;  the  fatiguing 
duties  of  the  camp  wore  upon  their  spirits,  affected  their 
health,  and  produced  an  unconquerable  longing  to  revisit 
their   homes.     Notwithstanding  the   great  exertions  of 
general  Washington,  no  more  than  half  the  estimated 
number  had  been  enlisted  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

79.  The  people  and  the  troops,  supposing  the  army  to 
be  stronger  than  it  was,  expressed  great  dissatisfaction  at 
the  inactivity  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  which  some 
imputed  to  dishonorable  motives.     An  attack  upon  Boston 
was  loudly  demanded.     Washington  three  times  proposed 
it  to  a  council  of  war ;  but  in  every  instance  the  decision 
was  unanimous  against  it.    At  the  last  time,  however,  tlm 
Council  recommended  that  the  town  should  be  more  closely 
invested.     On  the  evening  of  the  fourth  of  March  1776, 
the  attention  of  the  enemy  being  diverted,  by  a  brisk 
cannonade,  to  a  different  quarter,  a  party  of  troops,  under 
the  command  of  general  Thomas,   took  possession,  in 
silence,  of  Dorchester  heisrhts?;  um!  v/ith  almost  incredible 


J77o.J  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR,  la<3 

industry,  erected,  before  morning,, a  line  of  fortifications 
•which  commanded  the  harbor  and  the  town. 

80.  The  view  of  these  works,  raised  like  an  exhalation 
from  the  earth,  excited  the  astonishment  of  general  Howe, 
who,  on  the  resignation  of  general  Gage,  had  been  appoint 
ed  comniander-in-chief.  He  saw  that  he  must  immediately 
dislodge  the  Americans  or  evacuate  the  town.     The  next 
day  he  ordered  3000  men  to  embark  in  boats  and  proceeded, 
by  way  of  Castle  Island,  to  attack  the  works  on  the 
heights.    A  furious  storm  dispersed  them;  the  fortifica 
tions,  in  the  mean  time,  were  rendered  too  strong  to  be 
forced  ;  and  general  Howe  was  compelled  to  seek  safety 
in  an  immediate  departure  from  Boston. 

81.  Of  the  determination  of  the  enemy  to  evacuate  the 
town,  general  Washington  was  soon  apprized.     The  event 
being  certain,  he  did  not  wish  by  an  attack  to  hasten  it,  as 
the  fortifications  at  New- York,  to  which  place  he  pre 
sumed  they  would  repair,  were  not  in  sufficient  forwardness 
to  protect  it.     The  embarkation  was  made  on  the  17th  of 
March  ;  a  few  days  after,  the  whole  fleet  set  sail,  and  the 
American  army  hastened,  by  divisions,  to  New- York. 

82.  The  acquisition  of  this  important  town  occasioned 
great  and  general  rejoicing.     The  tjianks  of  congress  wen? 
voted  to  general  Washington  and  his  troops,  for  their  wise 
arid  spirited  conduct,  a  medal  of  gold  was  ordered  to  bo 
struck  in  commemoration  of  the  event.    The  British  fleet, 
instead  of  conveying  the  troops  to  New^York,  steered  for 
Halifax,  having  on  board  a  large  number  of  tories  and 
their  baggage. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
EXPEDITION  AGAINST  CANADA.  , 

IT  has  been  already  stated,  that  two  expeditions  were 
despatched  against  Canada.  The  command  of  that,  which 
was  to  proceed  by  way  of  lake  Champlain,  was  given  to 
general  Schuyler  of  New- York.  The  number  of  troops 
to  be  employed  was  fixed  at  three  thousand,  and  they  were 
to  be  drawn  from  New- York  and  New-England.  Gover- 
JK^T  Carleton,  gaining  intelligence  of  the  project,  despatched 
about  eight  hundred  men  to  .strengthen  the  works  at  8N 


itiO  REVOLUTIONARY  WAK.  [1775.; 

Johns,  on  the  river  Sorel,  a  position  commanding  the  usual 
entrance  into  Canada. 

2.  Brigadier  general  Montgomery,  a  young  officer  of 
brilliant  talents,  and  ambitious  of  glory,  was  ordered  ta 
proceed  in  advance,  with  the  troops,  then  in  readiness,  and 
attack  this  important  position,  before  it  had  been  made  too 
strong  to  be  taken.     When  commencing  his  career,  the 
glory  and  fate  of  Wolfe  were  present  to  his  thoughts,  and 
10  his  wife  his  parting  words  were,  '*  you  shall  never  blush 
for  your  Montgomery."    General  Schuyler  soon  followed, 
and  on  arriving  at  Isle  aux  Noix,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
British  works,  he  addressed  a  proclamation  to  the  Cana 
dians,  exhorting  them  to  join  their  brethren  in  the  cause  of 
freedom,  and  declaring  that  the  American  army  came  as 
friends  of  the  inhabitants,   and  as  enemies  only  of  tha 
British  garrisons. 

3.  The  fortifications  at  St.  Johns  being  found  stronger 
than  was  anticipated,  general  Schuyler  returned  to  Albany 
to  hasten  the  departure  of  the  remaining  troops,  artillery, 
and  munitions  of  war.     He  was  prevented,  by  a  severe 
illness,  from  again  joining  the  army,  and  the  chief  com 
mand  devolved  upon  Montgomery.  On  receiving  a  reinforce 
ment,  he  invested  St.  Johns :  but  being  yet  almost  destitute 
of  battering  cannon  and  of  powder,  he  made  no  progress 
in  the  siege.    And  the  soldiers,  carrying  with  them  into 
the  field  that  attachment  to  liberty  and  equality  which 
gave  birth  to  the  contest,  displayed  such  utter  aversion  to 
discipline  and  subordination  as  increased,  in  a  great  degree,, 
his  difficulties  and  vexations. 

4.  Colonel  Allen,  the  hero  of  Ticonderoga,  had  a  com 
mand  under  Montgomery.     Having  been  despatched,  with 
major  Brown,  into  the  interior  of  Canada,  he  was,  on  his 
return,  persuaded  by  the  latter  to  undertake  the  rash  pro 
ject  of  attacking  Montreal.     He  divided  his  detachment, 
consisting  of  less  than  three   hundred  men,  into  two 
parties,  intending  to  assail  the  city  at  opposite  points. 
Major  Brown  was  prevented  from  executing  his  part  of  the 
enterprise.    Colonel  Allen  and  his  small  party,  opposed  by 
the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  under  governor  Carletou, 
fought  with  desperate  valor.     Many  were  killed ;  the  sur- 
vivers,  overpowered  by  numbers,  were  compelled  to  sur- 
lender.     The  governor,  viewing  Allen,  not  as  the  intrepid 
soldier,  but  as  a  factious  rebel,  loaded  him  with  irons  and 
fcnit  him  to  England  for  trial. 


jr-Ti.j  REVOLUTIONARY"  WAR.  161 

5.  On  the  18th  of  October,  a  fortunate  event  brighten 
ed  the  prospects  of  the  Americans.  Fort  Chamblee, 
situated  several  miles  north  of  St.  Johns,  was  supposed 
to  be  beyond  their  reach,  and  was  but  slightly  guarded.  A 
detachment  under  majors  Brown  and  Livingston,  attacking 
it  unexpectedly,  gained  possession  of  it  with  little  loss. 
(Several  pieces  of  cannon,  and  120  barrels  of  powder,  were 
the  fruits  of  the  victory.  The  Americans,  encouraged  by 
success,  immediately,  in  defiance  of  the  continual  fire  of 
the  enemy,  erected  a  battery  near  fort  St.  Johns,  and 
made  preparations  for  a  severe  cannonade,  and  an  assault, 
if  necessary. 

(?.  At  this  juncture,  Montgomery  received  intelligence 
of  an  action  between  governor  Carleton  and  a  body  of 
Green  Mountain  boys  commanded  by  colonel  Warner. 
The  former,  elated  by  his  victory  over  Allen,  collected 
about  eight  hundred  regulars,  militia,  and  Indians,  with  the 
\ie\v  of  raising  the  siege  of  St.  Johns.  In  full  confidence 
«>f  success,  they  left  Montreal,  embarked  in  boats,  and 
proceeded  towards  the  southern  shore  of  the  St.  Law 
rence.  In  the  bushes  at  the  water's  edge  colonel  Warner, 
having  received  information  of  their  purpose,  concealed 
three  hundred  men,  who,  when  the  enemy  approached  the 
shore,  poured  upon  them  a  fire  so  unexpected  and  destruc 
tive,  that  the  flotilla  returned,  in  confusion,  to  Montreal. 

7.  On  the  first  of  November,  Montgomery  commenced 
a  heavy  connonade  of  the   enemy's  works,  which  wa« 
continued  through  the  day.     In  the  evening,  he  sent  to 
the  British  commander,  by  one  of  governor   Carleton's 
men,  who  had  been  made  prisoner  by'colonel  Warner,  in 
telligence  of  the   governor's  defeat,  and  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  fort.     It  was  accordingly  surrendered, 
and  the  next  morning  entered  by  the  American  troops. 

8.  Montgomery  hastened  to  Montreal,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  despatched  down  the  Sorel,  the  mouth  of  which  is 
below  that  city,  a  naval  force  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the 
British  to  Quebec.  Governor  Carleton,  believing  the  city  not 
tenable,  quitted  it  in  the  night,  and,  in  a  boat  with  muffled 
oars,  was  conveyed  through  the  American  squadron.    Tim 
next  day,  general  Montgomery  entered  the  city,  and  although 
no  terms  were  granted  to  the  inhabitants,  he  treated  them 
with  the  kindness  of  a  fellow  citizen,  declaring  that  the 
property,  rights,  and  religion  of  every  individual  should  be 
sacredly  respected. 

0,  By  his  benevolence  and  address,  ho  gained  the  afTeo- 


)o2  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1:75. 

tions  of  the  Canadians,  many  of  whom  joined  his  standard. 
More,  however,  of  his  own  troops,  whose  term  of  enlist 
ment  had  expired,  insisted  on  returning  to  their  homes. 
So  dear  to  them  were  the  delights  of  the  domestic  fireside, 
and  so  vividly  were  they  recalled  to  memory  by  the  severe 
duties  of  the  campaign,  that  the  high  character  of  the  com 
mander,  his  address,  his  entreaties,  availed  nothing  to  in 
duce  them  to  proceed  on  the  expedition.  With  the  remnant 
of  his  army,  consisting  of  no  more  than  three  hundred  men, 
he  began  his  march  towards  Quebec,  expecting  to  meet 
there  another  body  of  troops  sent  to  act  in  concert  with  him. 

10.  These  troops  were  a  detachment  from  the  army  before 
Boston,  consisting  of  one  thousand  men,  and  commanded 
by  colonel  Arnold ;  who,  as  a  soldier,  was  adventurous, 
impetuous,  and  fearless ;  as  a  man,  overbearing,  avaricious, 
and  profligate.     Their  route  lay  along  the  coast  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Kennebec,  in  Maine,  thence  up  that  river  to 
its  source,  and  thence,  over  lofty  mountains,  through  a 
wilderness  unexplored  by  civilized  man,  to  the  river  St. 
3  ,awrence.     They  were  unable  to  begin  their  march  before 
the  middle  of  September;  on  the  22d,  they  embarked  in 
boats,  at  Gardner,  on  the  Kennebec,  and  proceeded  to 
ascend  that  river. 

11.  They  found  the  current  rnpid,  and  the  navigation 
interrupted  by  frequent  cataracts.     Around  these  they 
were  obliged  to  draw,  by  hand,  their  provisions,  arms,  anil 
even  their  boats.     Nor  was  their  route  on  land  less  diffi 
cult.     They  had  deep  swamps  to  pass,  and  craggy  moun 
tains  to  ascend.    The  toil  was  so  incessant,  and  the  fatiguo 
so  great,  that  many,  falling  sick,  were  sent  back,  and  along 
with  these  the  rear  division,  commanded  by  colonel  Enos, 
returned  without  the  knowledge  of  Arnold. 

12.  Before  they  reached  the  height  of  land,  provisions 
became  scarce.     Dogs,  cartridge-boxes,  and  shoes  were 
oaten.     At  the  summit,  the  whole  stock  was  divided 
equally  among  them,  each  receiving  but  two  quarts  of 
flour  as  his  portion.     The  order  of  march  was  no  longer 
observed.     The  soldiers  were  directed  to  proceed,  singly 
or  by  companies,  as  they  might  choose,  slowly  or  with 
speed,  as  they  wTere  able,  to  the  nearest  Canadian  settle 
ment,  then  one  hundred  miles  distant.     When  the  com 
pany,  whose  superior  strength  enabled  them  to  keep  in 
advance,  were  thirty  miles  from  any  human  habitation, 
the  last  morsel  of  food  had  been  consumed. 

3*3.  Tn  this  extremity,  Arnold,  with  a  few  of  the  most 


1-5.]  REVOLUTIONARY'  WAR,  103 

vigorous,  made  a  forced  march  to  the  first  village,  and 
leturned  to  his  almost  famished  companions,  with  food 
sufficient  to  satisfy  the  first  wants  of  nature.  Refreshed 
and  strengthened,  they  hastened  forward,  and,  on  the  fourth 
of  November,  arrived  at  the  French  settlements  on  the 
('haudiere,  having  been  thirty-two  days  without  seeing 
the  abodes  of  civilized  man ;  and  having,  in  that  time,  per 
formed  a  inarch  unexampled  for  its  temerity  and  hardship. 

14.  The  inhabitants  welcomed  them  with  cordial  hos 
pitality.     Though  separated,  in  a  great  measure,  from  the 
world,  they  had  heard  of  the  dispute  between  Great  Britain 
ntid  her  colonies,  and  as  the  very  name  of  liberty  is  dear 
to  the  heart  of  man,  their  sympathies  were  all  enlisted  on 
the  side  of  the  latter.     Arnold  distributed  proclamations 
among  them  similar  to  those  issued  by  general  Sclmyler. 
As  soon  as  the  scattered  soldiers  were  assembled,  he  con 
tinued  his  march,  and,  on  the  ninth  of  November,  arrived 
:it  Point  Levi,  opposite  Quebec. 

1 5.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  surprise  and  astonishment 
•of  the  citizens  on  seeing  a  body  of  hostile  troops,  emerging 
from  the  southern  wilderness.     Had  Arnold,  at  this  mo 
ment  of  panic,  been  able  to  cross  the  river,  the  city  must 
have  fallen  an  easy  conquest ;  but  boats  were  not  at  hand, 
;md  a  furious  storm,  occurring  at  the  time,  rendered  cross 
ing  impossible. 

1G.  Having  procured  boats,  and  the  storm  having  abated, 
lie  crossed  the  river  on  the  night  of  the  13th,  and  landed 
near  the  place  where  Wolfe  had  landed  in  the  preceding- 
war*  mounting  the  same  steep  ascent,  he  formed  his 
Iroopson  the  plains  of  Abraham,  and  marched  towards 
the  city.  Convinced,  by  a  cannonade  from  the  walls,  that 
the  garrison  were  ready  to  receive  him,  he  returned,  en 
camped  on  the  plain,  and  on  the  18th  marched  to  Point 
uux  Trembles,  twenty  miles  from  Quebec,  where  he 
determined  to  await  the  arrival  of  Montgomery. 

17.  He  came  on  the  first  of  December.  How  great  was 
the  joy,  and  how  lively  the  gratulations,  they  only  can 
imagine,  who,  after  long  absence  and  suffering,  have  met, 
in  a  foreign  land,  their  friends  and  former  companions. 
Arnold's  troops  had,  indeed,  groat  canso  of  rejoicing. 
They  were  entirely  destitute  of  winter  clothing,  and  had 
endured  extreme  distress  from  the  severity  of"  the  cold. 
Montgomery  had  brought  a  supply  from  Montreal,  which 
he  immediately  distributed  among  them. 

1^.  Their  united  force  amounted  to  no  more  than  nine 


W4  REVOLUTIONARY  \VAR.  [1775. : 

hundred  effective  men.  On  the  fifth,  the  general,  at  the 
head  of  these,  appeared  hefore  the  city,  and  sent  a  flag 
with  a  summons  to  surreuder.  The  delay  which  had  taken 
place,  had  enabled  governor  Carleton  to  increase  tho 
strength  of  the  works,  and  to  change  the  sentiments  of 
the  citizens  from  friendship  for  the  Americans,  to  hostility. 
He  ordered  his  troops  to  fire  upon  the  bearer  of  the  flag. 

19.  Montgomery  soon  discovered  the  defection  of  his 
friends,  and  perceived  that  he  must  depend  upon  his  own 
force  alone  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  object.     When 
lie  compared  this  force  with  that  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
fifteen  hundred  strong;  wTien  he  reflected  that  his  troops 
were  recent  levies  whose  term  was  nearly  expired,  and 
whose  thoughts  were  fixed  upon  their  homes,  his  hopes 
of  success  became  faint,  and  his  forebodings  gloomy.    He 
believed,  however,  that  success  was  possible,  and  his  high 
sense  of  honor  and  of  duty  impelled  him  to  hazard  every 
tiling  to  obtain  it  for  his  country. 

20.  He  at  first  determined  to  batter  the  walls,  arid 
harass  the  city,  by  repeated  and  furious  attacks,  hoping 
1  hat  an  opportunity  might  occur  of  striking  some  decisive 
blow.     He  raised  a  mound,  composed  of  snow  and  water, 
which  soon  became  ice,  and  there  planted  his  cannons, 
six  only  in  number.     After  a  short  trial,  they  were  found 
inadequate,  and  this  plan  was  abandoned. 

21.  Meanwhile,  the   snow  fell   incessantly,  the   cold 
}>ecame  intense,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  troops,  from  the 
rigor  of  the  season  and  their  continual  toil,  surpassed  all 
that  they  had  ever  before  felt,  or  witnessed,  or  imagined. 
To  increase  their  distress,  the  small  pox  broke  out  in  tho 
oamp,  presenting  death  in  a  new  shape,  and  adding  to  the 
severity  of  their  labors,  by  lessening  the  number  "to  bear 
them.      In  the  midst  of  these  trials,  their  attachment 
to  the  cause,  and  devotion  to  their  commander  remained 
unabated ;  but  these,  he  reflected,  must  soon  give  way 
before  such  severe  and  constant  suffering ;  and  for  him 
self,  he  determined  to  make  immediately  a  bold  and  des 
perate  effort. 

22.  Assembling  his  officers,  he  proposed  to  storm  the 
city.     He  placed  before  them  the  motives  which  operated 
upon  his  own  mind.    He  did  not  deny  that  the  enterprise 
was  highly  difficult  and  dangerous,  but  maintained  that 
success  was  possible.     He  addressed  a  band  of  heroes 
whose  sentiments  were  congenial  with  his  own,  and  the 
<]pfMSJon  was  unanimous  in  favor  of  his  proposition.    The 


J775.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  1(& 

plan  and  time  of  attack  were  concerted,  and  to  each  officer 
was  assigned  his  particular  duty. 

23.  On  the  last  day  of  December,  at  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  while  a  violent  snow  storm  was  raging,  the  troops 
marched  from  the  camp  in  four  columns,  commanded  by 
Montgomery,  Arnold,  Livingston,  and  Brown.     The  two 
latter  were  directed  to  make  feigned  attacks  upon  the 
upper  town,  in  order  to  distract  the  attention  of  the  garri 
son  ;  while  the  two  former  proceeded  to  assault  the  lower 
town  at  opposite  points. 

24.  Livingston  and  Brown,  impeded  by  the  snow,  did 
not  arrive  in  season  to  execute  their  feints.    Montgomery, 
advancing,  at  the  head  of  his  column,  along  the  bank  of 
the  river,  came  to  a  barrier  or  stockade  of  strong  posts. 
Two  of  these  he  sawed  off  with  his  own  hands.     The 
^iiard  within  were  alarmed,  and  fled  to  a  block-house,  fifty 
yards  distant,  where  several  pieces  of  cannon  were  sta 
tioned.     He  passed  through  the  opening  in  the  barrier, 
encouraging  his  men  to  follow.     The  troops  at  the  block 
house,  to  whom  the  guard  had  communicated  their  terror, 
began  to  desert  it. 

25.  At  this  moment,  Montgomery  halted,  to  allow  the 
troops  near  him  to  form  in  a  body.     Observing  this  delay, 
a  Canadian,  who  lingered  behind,  returned  to  the  block 
house,  seized  a  match  which  was  burning,  and  discharged 
a  cannon  loaded  with  grape  shot,  and  fortuitously  pointed 
at  the  little  band.     The  discharge  was  instantly  fatal  to 
Montgomery,  and   to   several  favorite   officers   standing 
around  him.     The  men,  seeing  their  beloved   leader  fall, 
shrunk  back ;  colonel  Campbell,  the  next  in  command, 
ordered  a  retreat,  and  that  portion  of  the  garrison  stationed 
at  the  block-house,  was  left  at  liberty  to  hasten  to  another 
part  of  the  city,  already  in  commotion  from  the  attack  of 
Arnold. 

26.  This  officer,  marching,  like  Montgomery,  at  the 
head  of  his  column,  had  entered  the  town.     Advancing 
along  a  narrow  street,  which  was  swept  by  the  grape  shot 
of  the  enemy,  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  leg,  and 
was  carried  to  the  hospital.     Captain  Morgan,  afterwards 
distinguished  by  his  exploits  at  the  south,  assumed  the 
command.   Placing  himself  at  the  head  of  two  companies, 
lie  boldly  approached  the  enemy's   works,  and  entering 
through  the  embrasures,  drove  the  men  fron;  their  guns. 

27.  Here  he  halted  until  the  rear  of  the  column  camo 
up.    When  time  v,*as  <riven  for  reflection,  the  danger  of 


;OG  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [177V 

their  situation,  a  small  band  in  the  heart  of  a  hostile  city, 
filled  even  the  bosoms  of  the  brave  with  dread.  Morgan 
retained  his  firmness ;  and  when  the  morning  dawned, 
with  a  voice  that  resounded  through  the  city,  summoned 
his  troops  to  the  assault  of  a  second  battery,  a  short 
distance  in  advance  of  the  first. 

28.  Before  this,  a  fierce  combat  ensued.    Many  of  the 
enemy  were  killed,  but  more  Americans,  who  were  ex 
posed  to  a  destructive  fire  of  musketry  from  the  windows 
of  the  houses.     Some  of  the  most  daring  mounted  the 
wall,  but,  seeing,  on  the  other  side,  two  ranks  of  soldiers, 
with  their  muskets  6n  the  ground,  presenting  hedges  of 
bayonets  to  receive  them,  should  they  leap  forward,  they 
recoiled  and  descended. 

29.  Weary  with  exertion,  and  benumbed  with  cold; 
exposed  to  a  deadly  fire  from  every  quarter ;  their  arms 
rendered  useless  by  the  snow  which  continued  to  fall,  the 
soldiers   sought  refuge  in  the  houses.     Perceiving  that 
all  farther  attempts  would  be  vain,  Morgan  gave  the  signal 
of  retreat.  Some  of  the  men  fled,  but  most  were  unwilling 
to  encounter  another  tempest  of  shot.     They  refused, 
however,  to  yield,  until  assured  of  the  fate  of  Montgome 
ry  ;  when,  loosing  all  hope  of  success  and  escape,  they 
surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war. 

30.  The  loss  of  the  Americans,  in  this  desperate  enter 
prise,  was  above  four  hundred,  of  whom  one  hundred  and 
fifty  were  killed.     The  whole   continent  bewailed   the 
death  of  Montgomery.  He  was  conspicuous,  even  in  those 
times  of  enthusiasm,  for  his  ardent  devotion  to  the  cause 
of  freedom.     He  was  endeared  to  the  good,  by  the  exer 
cise,  in  the  midst  of  war,  of  the  most  amiable  virtues.    Hi.s 
soldiers  adored  him  for  his  lofty  spirit  and  daring  bravery. 
The  enemy  respected  him  for  his  honorable  conduct,  and 
distinguished  military  qualities.     Until  his  last  enterprise, 
continual  success  bore  testimony  to  the  greatness  of  his 
talents  ;  and  defeat,  when  he  was  no  more,  confirmed  the 
testimony  of  success.     Congress  resolved  that  a  monu 
ment  should  be  erected  to  perpetuate  his  fame.     It  lives 
yet  fresh  in  the  memory  of  Americans.     In  1818,  New- 
York,  his  adopted  state,  removed  his  remains  from  Quebec 
to  her  own  metropolis,  where  the  monument  had  beou 
placed,  and  near  that  they  repose. 

31.  Some  of   the  Americans,   on  their   escape   from 
Quebec,  retreated  precipitately  to  Montreal.  Arnold,  witli 

ty,  detained  about  fonr  hundred,  who.  breaking  u.»i 


1776.]  REVULliTiONARy  WAR,  137 

their  camp,  retired  three  miles  from  the  city.  Here  this 
heroic  band,  though  much  inferior  in  number  to  the  garri 
son,  kept  it  in  continual  awe,  and,  by  preventing  all  com 
munication  with  the  country,  reduced  it  to  great  distress 
ibr  the  want  of  provisions. 

32.  Congress,  on  receiving  information  of  the  disaster 
of  the  31st  of  December,  directed  reinforcements  to  be 
sent  to  Canada;  and  after  the  beginning  of  March,  Arnold's 
party  was  almost  daily  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  small 
bodies,  of  troops.     But  its  strength  did  not  increase  with 
its  numbers.     The  small-pox  still  continued  its  ravages ; 
fatigue,  without  hope,  depressed  the  spirits  of  the  soldiers; 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  provisions  became  every  day 
greater ;  and  the  harsh  measures  adopted  by  Arnold  to 
procure  them,  exasperated  the  inhabitants  around  him. 

33.  On  the  lirst  of  May,  general  Thomas,  who  had 
been  appointed  to  succeed  Montgomery,  arrived  from  the 
camp  at  Roxbury.     On  reviewing  his  army,  he  found  it  to 
consist  of  less  than  two  thousand  men,  of  whom  half  Were 
not  fit  for  duty.    A  council  of  war  was  held,  who  resolved 
that  it  was  expedient  to  take  a  more  defensible  position 
higher  up  the  St.  Lawrence.     To  this  decision  they  were 
led  by  the  knowledge  that  the  ice  was  leaving  the  river, 
and  by  the  expectation  that  reinforcements  from  England 
would  immediately  come  up.     The  next  morning,  in  fact, 
"while  the  Americans  were  engaged  in  removing  the  sick, 
several  ships  appeared  in  sight,  and  entered  the  harbor.  A 
multitude  of  troops  were  immediately  poured  into  the  city. 

34.  At  one  o'clock,  Carleton  made  a  sortie  at  the  head 
of  a  thousand  men.     Against  these,  general  Thomas,  at 
that  moment,  could  oppose  but  three  hundred.    All  the 
stores,  and  many  of  the  sick,  fell  into  the  power  of  the 
enemy.     The  latter  were  treated,  by  the  governor,  with 
great  tenderness ;  and  when  restored   to  health,  were 
assisted  to  return  to  their  homes.     The  Americans  re 
treated  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel,  where  they  were  joined 
by  several  regiments,  and  where  their  worthy  commander 
died  of  the  small-pox,  which  yet  prevailed  in  the  camp. 

35.  While  patriotism  and  valor  were,  in  this  quarter, 
unsuccessfully   contending  with    a    superior    force,    the 
Americans  sustained  a  heavy  and  unexpected  calamity, 
resulting  from  cowardice,  in  another.   At  a  fortified  place, 
railed  the  Cedars,  forty  miles  above  Montreal,  colonel 
Bedell  was  stationed  with  four  hundred  men,  and  two 
pieces  of  cannon.     Assembling  a   force  of  six 


ItiS  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  11775. 

mostly  Indian  warriors,  captain  Foster,  who  commanded 
at  Oswegatchie,  descended  the  river  to  attack  this  post. 

36.  Colonel  Bedell,  leaving  major  Butterficld  in  com 
mand,  repaired  to  Montreal  to  obtain  assistance.     Shortly 
afterwards,  captain  Foster  appeared,  and  invested  the 
fort.     He  had  no  artillery,  and  in  the  course  of  two  days, 
but  one  man  was  wounded.    More  efficient  than  his  arms, 
was  the  intimation,  that  if  any  of  the  Indians  should  be 
killed,  it  would  not  be  in  his  power  to  restrain  them  from 
the  massacre  of  the  garrison.     Intimidated  by  this,  major 
Butterfield  surrendered  his  whole  party  prisoners  of  war, 
stipulating  only  for  their  baggage  and  their  lives. 

37.  Upon  the  representation  of  colonel  Bedell,  a  rein~ 
forcement  was  ordered  to  march  from  Montreal ;  but  ho 
declined  returning  with  it,  and  the  command  was  given 
to  major  Sherburne.     The  day  after  the  surrender  of  tho 
fort,  of  which  event  the  major  was  ignorant,  and  about 
four  miles  from  it,  he  was  met  by  a  large  body  of  Indians, 
to  whom,  after  an  obstinate  and  bloody  contlict,  he  was 
obliged  to  surrender.     The  whole  loss  of  the  Americans 
was  at  least  five  hundred. 

38.  General  Sullivan  was  appointed  to  succeed  general 
Thomas,  and  on  the  first  of  June,  arrived  at  tho  river 
Sorel,  where  he  found  between  four  and  five  thousand 
men.     But  the  army  of  the  enemy  had,  in  the  mean  time, 
been  augmented  to  thirteen  thousand.     Commanding  a 
force  so  decidedly  superior,  governor  Carleton  pressed 
forward  in  pursuit,  and  the  Americans  retreated  slowly 
and  reluctantly  before  him.     At  St.  Johns,  the  pursuit 
ceased;  but  general  Sullivan,  in  obedience  to  orders  front 
general  Schuyler,  continued  his  march  to  Crown  Point, 
at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain. 

39.  Thus  terminated  the  expedition  a«rainst   Canada, 
In  its  conception  it  was  singularly  bold  and  romantic.    Li 
its  progress  were  displayed  fortitude  and  bravery  seldom 
equalled  in  military  annals.     Its  failure  was  a  painful 
disappointment  to  the  patriots  of  the   day.     It   is   now 
consoling  to  reflect,  that  success  would   probably  havo 
proved  injurious  to  the  cause  of  independence.     To  pro 
tect  the  province,  the  military  force  of  the  confederacy 
must  have  been  too  much  extended,  and  colonies  in -.>; ••• 
important  have  been  left  defenceless. 


CHAPTER  XVI1L 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1776.   * 

THE  last  humble  petition  of  congress  to  the  king  was 
presented  by  Mr.  Penn,  the  late  governor  of  Pennsylvania* 
A  few  days  afterwards,  he  was  told  by  the  minister  that 
no  answer  would  be  made  to  it.  The  haughty  spirit, 
which  dictated  this  reply,  pervaded  both  houses  of  par 
liament. 

2.  In  December,  a  law  was  passed  amounting  to  a 
declaration  of  war  against  the  colonies.     Treaties  wwre 
made  with  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse  Cassel  and  other 
German  princes,  hiring  of  them  seventeen  thousand  men, 
to  be  employed  against  the  Americans  ;  and  it  was  deter 
mined  to  send  over,  in  addition  to  these,   twenty-five 
thousand  English  troops. 

3.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  177G,  a  fleet  under  Sir 
Peter  Parker,   and  two  thousand  five   hundred  troops 
commanded  by  earl  Cornwallis,  were  despatched  upon  an 
expedition  against  the  southern  colonies.     Soon  after,  ad 
miral  Hotham  set  sail  with  a  large  number  of  transports, 
carrying  the  first  division  of  Hessians ;  and,  in  May,  fol 
lowed  admiral  lord  Howe,  who  had  been  appointed  com 
mander  of  the  naval  force  on  the  American  station.     He, 
and  his  brother,  general  Howe,  had  also  been  appointed 
joint  commissioners  to  grant  pardons  on  submission. 

4.  On  the  first  of  May,  the  fleet,  under  Sir  Peter  Par 
ker,  arrived  on  the  coast  of  North-Carolina,  where  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  arriving  at  the  same  time  from  New- York, 
took  command  of  the  troops.     The  late  defeat  of  the 
highland  emigrants  had  so  dispirited  the  loyalists  in  this 
colony,  that  he  determined  to  proceed  farther  south,  and 
attack  Charleston,  the  capital  of  South-Carolina. 

5.  Fortunately,  an  official  letter,  announcing  the  speedy 
departure  of  the  expedition  from  England,  had  been  inter 
cepted  early  in  the  spring,  and  time  was  thus  given  to 
place  this  city  in  a  state  of  defence.     A  strong  fort  was 
built  on  Sullivan's  island,  a  position  from  which  ships, 
on  entering  the  harbor,  could  be  greatly  annoyed ;  the 
streets,  in  different  places,  were  strongly  barricaded  ;  the 
stores  on  the  wharves,  though  of  great  value,  were  pulled 
down,  and  lines  of  defence  erected  along  the  water's  edge. 

6.  On  learning  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy,  the 

p 


ITO  REVOLUTIONARY  \\  'Alt.  [iTvo'V 

inilitia  of  the  country  were  summoned  to  defend  the  cap 
ital.  They  obeyed  with  alacrity,  increasing  to  five  or  six 
thousand  the  number  of  troops.  General  Lee  had  been 
sent  from  New- York  to  take  the  chief  command  ;  and  his 
high  military  reputation  gave  confidence  to  the  soldiers* 
and  inhabitants.  Under  him  were  colonels  Gadsden, 
Moultrie,  and  Thompson. 

7.  In  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  June,  nine  ships  of 
war,  carrying  t\vo  hundred  and  fifty  guns,  began  a  furious 
attack  upon  the  fort  on  the  island,  which  was  garrisoned 
by  about  four  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of  colonel 
Moultrie.     At  the  same  time,  a  detachment  of  troops  was 
landed  on  an  adjoining  island,  and  directed  to  cross  over, 
at  a  place  where  the  sea  was  supposed  to  be   shallow, 
and  attack  it  in  the  rear. 

8.  The  heavy  and  incessant  fire  of  the  enemy  was 
received  with  coolness,  and  returned  with  skill.     Many 
of  their  ships  suffered  severely,  and  particularly  the  Bris 
tol,  on  board  of  which  was  commodore  Parker.     She  was- 
twice  in  flames,  her  captain  was  killed,  and  so  dreadful 
was  the  slaughter,  that,  at  one  time,  the  commodore  was 
the  only  person  upon  deck  unhurt. 

i).  In  the  midst  of  the  action,  general  Lee  visited  the 
garrison.  He  wras  delighted  with  the  enthusiasm  they 
exhibited.  Nothing  seemed  capable  of  quenching  their 
ardor.  Soldiers,  mortally  wounded,  exhorted  their  com 
rades  never  to  abandon  the  standard  of  liberty.  "  I  die,?T 
said  sergeant  M'Donald,  in  his  last  moments,  "  for  a 
glorious  cause  ;  but  I  hope  it  will  not  expire  with  me.n 

10.  The  British  troops,  destined  to  attack  the  fort  i ti 
the  rear,  found  it  impossible  to  reach  the  island.     The 
engagement  with  the  fleet  continued  until  dark.     The 
ships,  having  received  too  much  injury  to  renew  it,  moved 
off  in  the  night ;  and  a  few  days  afterwards,  the  fleet, 
with  the  troops  on  board,  set  sail  for  New- York,  where 
the  whole  British  force  had  been  ordered  to  assemble. 

11.  The  killed  and  wounded  on  the  part  of  the  enemy, 
amounted  to  near  two  hundred.     Of  the  Americans,  ten 
were  killed,  and  twenty-two  wounded.     The  troops,  for 
their  gallantry,  received  the  thanks  of  congress,  and  high 
nnd  well  merited  praise  from  their  countrymen.     Their 
success  was  auspicious  to  the  cause   of  freedom.     In  a 
part  of  the  country  where  resistance  by  force  had  been 
but  Jitlle  contemplated,  it  aroused  the  people  to  exertion, 
ttnJ  inspired  them  wKh  confidence. 


17745.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  171 

12.  Notwithstanding  the  active  war  carried  on,  tho 
colonies  still  professed  allegiance  to  the  British  king ;  and 
protested  that  the  sole  object  of  all  their  measures,  was  a 
redress  of  grievances.     In  the  beginning  of  the  contest, 
these  professions,  in  most  instances,  were  sincere ;  but  a 
state  of  hostility  produced  a  rapid  change  of  sentiment. 
In  place  of  attachment  to  monarchy  and  to  Great  Britain, 
succeeded  devotion  to  republican  principles,  and  wishes 
for  independence. 

13.  The   temporary  constitutions   adopted  by   New- 
Hampshire,  and  several  other  colonies,  had  shown  with 
what  facility  all  bonds  of  connection  with  the  mother 
country  could  be  dissolved.     Essays  in  the  newspapers, 
and   pamphlets  industriously  circulated,  appealing  to  tho 
the  reason  and  to  the  passions  of  the  people,  enforced  the 
necessity  and  policy  of  a  separation.     Resistance,  it  was 
observed,  had  been  carried  too  far  to  allow  the  hope  that 
cordial  harmony  could  ever  he  restored  ;  submission  on. 
any  terms,  to  irritated  masters,  would  be  totally  unsafe ; 
and  the  alternative  was  presented  of  rising  to  the  honora 
ble  rank  of  an  independent  nation,  or  sinking  into  a  state 
of  vassalage  which  every  future  year  would  render  more 
oppressive  and  degrading. 

14.  A  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Common  Sense,"  and  written, 
by  Thomas  Paine,  an  Englishman,  was  universally  read, 
and  most  highly  admired.     In  language  plain,  forcible,  and 
singularly  well  fitted  to  operate  on  the  public  mind,  ho 
portrayed  the  excellencies  of  republican  institutions,  and 
attacked,  with  happy  and  successful  ridicule,  the  principles 
of  hereditary  government.     The  effect  of  the  pamphlet,  in. 
making  converts,  was  astonishing,  and  is  probably  without 
precedent  in  the  annals  of  literature. 

15.  As  a  step  preparatory  to  independence,  congress,  on 
the  15th  of  May,  recommended  to  those  colonies  that  had 
not  yet   adopted  constitutions,  to  establish,  without  any 
limitation  of  time,  "  such  governments  as  might  best  con 
duce  to  the  happiness  and  safety  of  the  people."     The 
recommendation  was  generally  complied  with,  and  in  every 
instance  the  government  was  not  only  entirely  elective, 
but  elective  at  such  short  periods  as  to  impress  upon  rulers 
their  immediate  acoountableness  to  the  people,  and  upon, 
the  people  a  just  opinion  of  their  own  importance,  and  a 
conviction  of  their  safety  from  misrule. 

10.  The  colonies  had  become  accustomed  to  contemplate 
thernsetves  as  sovereign  states;  find  the  governments  <*V 


172  HEVOLUTIONAHY  WAR.  [1776. 

many  expressed  their  desire  that  congress  would  declare 
them  such  to  the  world.  On  the  7th  of  June,  a  resolution 
to  that  effect  was  proposed,  in  that  body,  by  Richard  Henry 
Lee,  of  Virginia,  and  seconded  by  John  Adams,  of  Massa 
chusetts.  While  under  consideration,  the  colonies,  which 
had  not  expressed  their  approbation  of  the  measure, 
declared  their  concurrence.  A  committee,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Jefferson,  Adams,  Franklin,  Sherman,  and  Living 
ston,  were  instructed  to  prepare  a  Declaration  of  Inde 
pendence,  which,  on  the  fourth  of  July,  a  memorable  day, 
vras  almost  unanimously  adopted. 

17.  "  We  hold  these  truths,"  says  this  celebrated  state 
paper,  "  to  be  self  evident,  that  all  mankind  are  created 
equal ;  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain 
imalienable  rights;  that  among  these,  are  life,  liberty,  and 
the  pursuit   of  happiness;  that  to  secure   these  rights, 
governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just 
powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed ;  that  whenever 
any  form  of  government  becomes  destructive  of  these  ends, 
it  is  the  right  of  the  people  to  alter  or  abolish  it,  and  to 
institute  a  new  government,  laying  its  foundations  on  such 
principles,  and  organizing  its  powers  in  such  form,  as  to 
them  shall  seem  most  likely  to  effect  their  safety  and 
happiness." 

18.  To  justify  the  exercise,  on  the  present  occasion,  of 
the  right  here  asserted,  a  long  enumeration  is  made  of  the 
injuries  inflicted  upon  the  colonies,  by  the  king  of  Great 
Britain,  which  is  closed  by  declaring  that  "a  prince,  whose 
character  is  thus  marked  by  every  act  which  may  define 
a  tyrant,  is  unfit  to  be  the  ruler  of  a  free  people." 

19.  The  appeals  which  had  been  made  to  the  people  of 
Great  Britain,  are  also  recounted ;  "  but  they  too  have  been 
deaf  to  the  voice  of  justice  and  consanguinity.     We  must 
therefore  acquiesce  to  the  necessity  which  denounces  our 
separation,  and  hold  them,  as  we  hold  the  rest  of  mankind, 
enemies  in  war,  in  peace  friends. 

20.  "We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  general  congress  assembled,  appeal 
ing  to  the  Supreme  Judge  of  the  World  for  the  rectitude 
of  our  intentions,  do,  in  the  name,  and  by  the  authority,  of 
the  good  people  of  these  colonies,  solemnly  publish  and 
declare,  that  these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought 
to  be,  FREE  and  INDEPENDENT  STATES  ;  that  they  are  ab 
solved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  that, 
all  political  connection  between  them  and  the  state  of 


REVOLUTIONARY  WAR, 


*74  REVOLUTIONARY  AVAR.  [1776. 

passed  three  main  roads.  Various  circumstances  led 
general  Putnam  to  suspect  that  the  enemy  intended  to 
approach  him  by  the  road  leading  to  his  right,  which  he 
therefore  guarded  with  most  care. 

25.  Very  early  in  the  morning  of  the  26th,  his  suspicions 
were  strengthened  by  the  approach,  upon  that  road,  of  a 
column  of  British  troops,  and  upon  the  centre  road,  of  a 
column  of  Hessians.     To  oppose  these,  the  American 
troops  were  mostly  drawn  from  their  camp,  and  in  the  en 
gagements  which  took  place,  evinced  considerable  bravery. 

26.  These  movements  of  the  enemy  were  but  feints  to 
divert  the  attention  of  Putnam  from  the  road  which  led  to 
his  left,  along  which  general  Clinton  was  silently  advancing 
\vith  tfoe  main  body  of  the  British  army.     The  report  of 
cannon  in  that  direction  gave  the  first  intimation  of  the 
duiiger  which  was  approaching.  The  Americans  endeavored 
to  escape  it,  by  returning,  with  the  utmost  celerity,  to  their 
cttinp.     They  were  not  able  to  arrive  there  in  time,  but 
were  intercepted  by  general  Clinton,  who  drove  them  back 
upon  the  Hessians. 

27.  Attacked  thus  in  front  and  rear,  they  fought  a  suc 
cession  of  skirmishes,  in  the  course  of  which  many  were 
lulled,  many  made  prisoners,  and  several  parties,  seizing 
favorable    opportunities,    forced   their   way   through   the 
enemy,  and  regained  the  camp.     A  bold   and  vigorous 
charge,  made  by  the, American  general,  lord  Sterling,  at 
tho  head  of  a  Maryland  regiment,  enabled  a  large  body  to 
f scape  in  this  manner.     This  regiment,  fighting  with  des 
perate  bravery,  kept  a  force  greatly  superior  engaged,  until 
t  heir  comrades  had  passed  by,  when  the  few  who  survived, 
ceasing  to  resist,  surrendered  to  the  enemy. 

28.  The  loss  of  the  Americans,  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners,  considerably  exceeded  a  thousand.     Amon^  the 
latter  were  generals  Sullivan,  Sterling,  and  WoodhulL 
The  total  loss  of  the  enemy  was  less  than  four  hundred. 
They  encamped  at  night  before  the  American  lines  ;  and 
the  next  day  began  to  erect  batteries  within  six  hundred 
yards  of  their  left. 

29.  While  the  battle  was  raging,  general  Washington 
passed  over  to  Brooklyn,  where  he  witnessed,  with  inex 
pressible  anguish,  the  destruction  of  his  best  troops,  from 
which,  such  was  the  superiority  of  the  enemy,  it  was 
impossible  to  save  them.     Finding  the  men  dispirited  by 
•defeat,  he  determined  to  remove  them  to  the  city.     The 
retreat  wss  effected,  on  the  right  of  the  28th,  with  such 


5776.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  175 

silence  and  despatch,  that  before  the  suspicions  of  the 
enemy  were  excited,  the  last  division  of  boats  was  beyond 
the  reach  of  their  fire. 

30.  So  disheartened  were  the  militia,  that  they  deserted 
by  companies ;  and  even  .the  regular  troops  were  infected 
"by  their  example.     Near  the  middle  of  September,  the 
t'ommander-in-chief,  fearing  to  be  enclosed  in  the  city,  re 
tired  to  the  heights  of  Haerlem.  The  enemy  immediately 
look  possession.     A  few  days  afterwards,  a  fire  broke  out 
which  consumed  about  a  thousand  houses. 

31.  General   Washington,    after    reflecting  upon  the 
events  which  had  already  occurred ;  after  considering  the 
inexperience  of  his  troops,  the  condition  of  the  ctmntry, 
:md  the  distance  of  the  enemy  from  their  resources,  deter 
mined  to  adopt  a  cautious  system  of  warfare;  to  risk  at 
present  no  general  engagement ;  to  harrass  arid  wear  out 
the  enemy  by  keeping  them  in  continual  motion  ;  and  to 
inspire  his  own  troops  with  courage,  by  engaging  them  in 
skirmishes,  in  all  cases  where  success  was  provable.     In 
one,  fought  on  the  6th  of  September,  the  brave  colonel 
Knowlton  was  killed;  but  the  result  was  so  decidedly 
favorable  to  the  Americans,  that  the   troops  recovered 
their  spirits;  and  the  general  was  confirmed  in  the  system 
he  had  adopted. 

32.  The  movements  of  the  enemy,  in  the  beginning  of 
October,  indicated  an  intention  of  gaining  the  rear  of  the 
Americans,  and  cutting  off  their  communication  with  the 
eastern  states.     The  army,  therefore,  quitting  Haerlem, 
moved  northward  towards  White  Plains.     General  Howe 
pursued,  making  several  attempts  to  bring  on  a  general 
engagement,  which  Washington  avoided  by  skilful  changes 
of  position-     A  partial  action  was  fought,  on  the  28th  of 
October,  in  which  the  loss  on  both  sides  was  nearly 
equal. 

33.  Finding  his  antagonist  too  cautious  to  be  drawn  into 
the  open  field,  and  too  strong  to  be  attacked  in  his  en 
trenchments,  general  Howe  determined  to  return  towards 
New- York,  and  attack  forts  Washington  and  Lee,  situated 
opposite  to  each  other  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  and 
about  ten  miles  above  the  city.     In  these  forts,  garrisons 
had  been  left,  from  a  wish  to  preserve  the  command  of  this 
important  river.     That  in  fort  Washington,  consisting  ill 
part  of  militia,  amounted  to  two  thousand  seven  hundred 
men,  under  colonel  Magaw. 

34.  On  the  16th  of  November,  four  divisions  of  the, 


176  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  (jirJK 

enemy's  army,  led  by  their  principal  officers,  attacked  it  in 
ibur  different  quarters.  The  garrison,  and  particularly  the 
riflemen  under  colonel  Rawlings,  fought  hravely.  The 
Germans  were  several  times  driven  back,  with  great  loss. 
But  these  combined  and  vigorous  attacks  were  at  length 
successful.  The  ammunition  in  the  fort  being  nearly  ex 
hausted,  and  all  the  out  posts  driven  in,  the  commander, 
on  being  a  second  time  summoned,  agreed  to  capitulate,  on 
honorable  terms.  This  was  the  severest  blow  the  Ameri 
cans  had  yet  felt.  The  loss  of  the  enemy,  however,  in 
killed  and  wounded,  was  supposed  to  be  twelve  hundred 
men. 

\35.  Fort  Lee  was  immediately  evacuated,  the  garrison 
oining  general  Washington.  He  had  previously,  writh  one 
division  of  his  army,  crossed  over  into  New-Jersey,  leav 
ing  the  other,  under  the  command  of  general  Lee,  in  New- 
York.  His  force,  even  \vhen  augmented  by  the  garrison, 
consisted  of  but  three  thousand  effective  men,  and  they 
were  destitute  of  tents,  of  blankets,  and  even  of  utensils 
to  cook  their  provisions.  His  first  station  was  Newark ; 
but  the  enemy  pursuing  him,  he  was  compelled  to  retreat 
successively  to  Brunswick,  to  Princeton,  to  Trenton,  and 
finally  to  cross  the  Delaware  into  Pennsylvania ;  and  so 
close  was  the  pursuit,  that  the  advance  of  the  British  army 
was  often  in  sight. 

30.  Small  as  was  his  force  when  the  retreat  began,  it 
diminished  daily.  On  the  last  of  November,  many  of  his 
troops  were  entitled  to  their  discharge,  and  not  one  of 
them  could  be  persuaded  to  continue  another  day  in  ser 
vice.  Such  he  feared  would  be  the  conduct  of  the  re 
mainder,  whose  time  would  expire  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
In  this  extremity,  he  urged  general  Lee  to  hasten  to  his 
assistance;  but  that  officer,  having  other  purposes  in  view, 
delayed  his  march.  He  called  on  the  militia  of  New- 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  but  none  obeyed  his  call.  The 
population  around  him  were  hostile  or  desponding,  and 
withheld  all  aid  from  an  army  whose  career  seemed  near 
its  termination. 

37.  In  this  darkest  hour  in  American  history,  general 
Howe  issued  a  proclamation  offering  pardon  to  all  who 
would  declare  their  submission  to  royal  authority.  The 
contrast  between  a  ragged,  suffering,  retreating  army,  and 
a  full-clad,  powerful,  exulting  foe,  induced  many,  despair 
ing  of  success,  to  abandon  the  cause  they  had  espoused, 
.and  accept  of  pardon.  Arnons  them  wnro  Mr.  Galloway? 


1776.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  177* 

and  Mr.  Allen,  who  had  been  members  of  the  continental 
congress. 

38.  As  the  British  army  approached  Philadelphia,  con 
gress  adjourned  to  Baltimore,  having  previously  invested 
general  Washington  with  "  full  power  to  order  and  direct 
•all  things  relative  to  the  department,  and  to  the  operations 
of  war."    Such  unlimited  authority  could  not  have  been, 
placed  in  hands  more  worthy  to  hold  it.     To  the  elastic 
energy  of  his  mind,  and  his  perfect  self-possession  in  the 
most  desperate  circumstances,  is  America,  in  a  great  de 
gree,  indebted  for  her  independence. 

39.  On  the  day  that  he  was  driven  over  the  Delaware, 
the  British  took  possession  of  Rhode  Island.  On  the  13th 
of  December,  general   Lee,  having  wandered    from  his 
:irmy,  was  surprised  and  taken  prisoner.     In  the  experi 
ence  and  talents  of  this  officer,  the  people  reposed  great 
confidence,  and  they  lamented  his  loss  like  that  of  an 
array.  In  its  consequences,  his  capture  was  fortunate.  The 
command  of  his  division  devolved  upon  general  Sullivan, 
who  conducted  it  promptly  to  general  Washington,  aug 
menting  his  army  to  nearly  seven  thousand  effective  men. 

40.  Still  so  much  stronger  were  the  enemy,  that  they 
regarded  the  rebels,   for  so  they  delighted   to  "call  the 
patriots  of  that  day,  as  almost   subdued,  and  doubted  not 
that  a  vigorous  attempt,  whenever  they  should  be  disposed 
to  make  it,  wouhfrpra.ee  in  their  power  the  handful  of  men 
before  them.     They  rioted  upon  the  plunder  of  the  coun 
try,  and  enjoyed  in  prospect  the  fruits  of  an  assured  and 
decisive  victory. 

41.  Washington  saw  that  this  tide  of  ill  fortune  must 
be  stemmed — must  even  be  rolled  back  upon  the  enemy — 
or  it  would  soon  overwhelm  his  country.     He  resolved  to 
hazard  all  that  was  left  in  one  vigorous  effort  for  victory. 
On  the  night  of  the  25th  December,  at  the  head  of  two 
thousand  four  hundred  men,  he  crossed  the  Delaware  at 
Trenton,  surprised  a  body  of  Hessians  stationed   at   that 
place,  took  nine  hundred  prisoners,  and  immediately  re- 
crossed,  having  lost  but  nine  of  his  m^n. 

42.  This  sudden  and  severe  blow  awakened  the  enemy 
to  activity.     Cornwallis,  who  had  repaired  to  New- York, 
intrusting  to  his  inferior  officers  the  task  of  finishing  the 
war,  returned,  with  additional  troops,  to  regain  the  ground 
that  had  been  lost.  He  concentrated  his  forces  at  Prince 
ton;  and  soon  alter,  Washington,  having  been  joined  by 
y  body  of  Pennsylvania  militia,  and  persuaded  the  New- 


178  REVOLUTIONARY  \VAR.  [1777. 

England  troops  to  servo  six  weeks  longer,  again  crossed 
the  Delaware  and  took  post  at  Trenton. 

43.  On  the  3d  of  January,  1777,  the  greater  part  of  the 
British  army  marched  to  attack  the  Americans.     In  the 
evening  they  encamped  near  Trenton,  in  full,  expectation 
of  a  battle  and   victory  in  tho   morning.     Washington, 
sensible  of  the  inferiority  of  his  force  ;  sensible  too  that 
flight  would  be  almost  as  fatal  as  defeat,  conceived  another 
bold  project  which  he  resolved  instantly  to  execute. 

44.  About  midnight,  having  renewed  his  fires,  he  silent 
ly  decamped,  and  gaining,  by  a  circuitous  route,  the  rear 
of  the  enemy,  marched  towards  Princeton,  where  he  pre 
sumed  Cornwallis  had  left  a  part  of  his  troops.     At  sun 
rise,  the  van  of  the  American  forces  met  unexpectedly 
two  British  regiments.     A  sharp  action  ensued  ;  the  for 
mer  gave  way.     At  this  crisis,  when  all  was  at  stake,  the 
commander-in-chief  led  the  main  body  to  the  attack.  Tho 
enemy  were   routed   and   fled.     Fortunately  the   heroic 
Washington,  though  exposed  to  both  fires,  and  but  a  few 
yards  distant  from  either  party,  escaped  unhurt. 

45.  Instead  of  pursuing  them,  he  pressed  forward  to 
Princeton,  where  one  regiment  yet  remained.     Part  saved 
themselves  by  a  precipitate  flight ;  about  three  hundred 
were  made  prisoners.     The  British  loss  in  killed  was  up 
wards  of  one  hundred ;  the  American  was  less,  but  in  the 
number  were  the  brave  general  Mercer,  and  several  valua 
ble  officers.     Among  the  \vounded  was  lieutenant  James 
Monroe,  afterwards  raised  to  the  highest  office  in  the  gift 
of  his  fellow  citizens. 

4f>.  In  consternation,  the  British  army  immediately  eva 
cuated  Trenton,  and  retreated  to  New-Brunswick.  The 
inhabitants,  resuming  their  courage,  and  giving  full  force 
to  their  racre,  which  fear  had  smothered,  took  revenge  for 
the  brutalities  they  had  suffered.  The  enemy  were  driven 
from  all  their  posts  in  New-Jersey,  except  Amboy  and 
Brunswick,  and  the  American  army  obtained  secure  win 
ter  quarters  at,  Morristown. 

47.  The  brilliant  victories  at  Trenton  and  Princeton 
raised,  from  the  lowest  depression,  the  spirits  of  the 
A-merican  people.  They  regarded  Washington  as  the  sa 
vior  of  his  country,  lie  became  the  theme  of  eulogy 
throughout  Europe.  And  having  displayed,  as  occasions 
demanded,  the  opposite  qualities  of  caution  and  impetu 
osity,  he  received  the  honorable  and  appropriate  appellation 
of  the  American  Fabin«s. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1777. 

THK  firmness  manifested  by  congress,  when  disaster 
and  defeat  had  almost  annihilated  the  American  army, 
entitles  the  members  to  the  gratitude  and  admiration  of 
every  friend  of  freedom.  They  exhibited  no  symptom 
of  terror  or  dismay.  They  voted  to  raise  an  army  to  take 
the  place  of  that  which  was  to  be  disbanded  at  the  end  of 
the  year ;  and,  made  sensible  by  experience,  that  short 
enlistments  had  been  the  cause  of  most  of  the  misfortunes 
of  their  country,  they  resolved  that  the  new  levies  should 
be  enlisted  to  serve  three  years  or  during  the  war,  at  the 
option  of  the  individual  recruits.  To  defray  expenses, 
they  made  large  emissions  of  paper  money.  And  to  evince 
their  firm  determination  to  the  world,  they  solemnly 
declared  that  they  would  listen  to  no  terms  of  peace 
which  required  a  relinquishment  of  their  independence, 
or  which  should  deprive  other  nations  of  a  free  trade  to 
their  ports. 

2.  Relying  on  the  inveterate  enmity  of  France  against 
Great   Britain,  they  sent  commissioners  to  that  court, 
with  instructions  to  solicit  a  loan  of  money,  a  supply  of 
munitions  of  war,  aud  an  acknowledgement   of  the  inde 
pendence  of  the   United   States.     These  commissioners 
were  Dr.Franklin,  Silas  Dean,  and  Arthur  Lee,     Frank 
lin  arrived  at  Paris  in  December.     The  cause  of  which 
he  was  the  advocate-,  and  his  own  great  fame  as  a.  philos 
opher,  procured  him  a  flattering  reception  from    all  ranks 
of  people.     America,  her  minister,  her   struggle  against 
oppression,  became  the  themes  of  popular  discourse,  and 
the  government  itself  was  rendered  in -secret  propitious  to 
her  cause. 

3.  The  ministry  permitted  arms,  covertly  taken  from 
the  public  arsenals,  to  be  conveyed  to  the    United  States. 
The/y  connived  at  the  sale,  in  their   West  India  islands, 
and  even  in  the  ports  of  France,  of  the   prizes  taken  by 
American  privateers.     The  value  of  these  prizes  made  in 
the  year  1776,  was  computed  at  five  millions  of  dollars, 
and  far  exceeded  that  of  the  captures  made  by  the  enemy. 

4.  So  popular  was  the  cause  of  the    United  States,  and 
so  exalted  the   character  of  their  military  leader,  that 
many  French  officers  sought  an  opportunity  of  engaging 


^180  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1777. 

*in  their  service.  Among  these,  the  young  Marquis  do  la 
Fayette  was  most  conspicuous  for  his  rank,  and  most  dis 
tinguished  for  his  ardor  and  enthusiasm.  At  an  early 
period,  he  communicated  to  the  American  agents  his  wish 
to  join  the  republican  armies.  At  first,  they  encouraged 
his  zeal,  but  learning  the  disasters  which  proceeded  the 
victory  at  Trenton,  they,  with  honorable  frankness,  com 
municated  the  information  to  him,  and  added  that  they 
were  so  destitute  of  funds,  that  they  could  not  even  pro 
vide  for  his  passage  across  the  ocean. 

5.  "  If  your  country,"  replied  the  gallarit  youth,  "  is  in 
deed  reduced  to  this  extremity,  it  is  at  this  moment  that 
my  departure  to  join  her  armies  will  render  her  the  most 
essential  service."     He  immediately  hired  a  vessel  to 
convey  him  to  America,  where  he  arrived  in  the  spring  of 
1777.     He  was  received  with   cordial  affection  by  the 
people,  became  the  bosom  friend  of  Washington,  solicited 
permission  to   serve   without   pay,    and  was   appointed 
major-general  in  the  army. 

6.  In  the  last  campaign,  more  prisoners  had  been  taken 
by  the  British  than    by   the   Americans.     They  were  de 
tained  at  New- York,  and  were  confined  in   churches   and 
prison  ships,  where  they  endured  the  extremity  of  wretch 
edness.     They  were   exposed,  without   fire   and   almost 
without  clothes,  to  the  inclemency  of  a  severe  winter ; 
were  often  whole  days  without  food,  and  when  food  was 
offered,  it   was   but  a  miserable  pittance,  damaged  and 
loathsome.     Many  died  of  hunger,  and  more  of  diseases, 
produced  by  their  complicated  sufferings. 

7.  Washington  remonstrated  with  warmth,  and  threat 
ened  retaliation.     After   his  victories    in   New-Jersey, 
their  treatment  was   less  inhuman.     An   exchange   was 
agreed  upon,  but  many,   when   attempting  to   walk  from 
their  places  of  confinement  to   the   vessels   provided   to 
convey  them  away,  fell  and  expired  in  the  streets.     Yet 
in  the  midst  of  these  unparalleled  sufferings,   they  had 
exhibited  fortitude  more   rare,   and   more   honorable   to 
human  nature,  than  the  highest  display  of  valor  in  battle. 
To  entice  them  to  enlist  in  the  royal  army,  they  were  pro 
mised  relief  from  misery,  and  the  enjoyment  of  abundance. 
They  rejected  the  offer  with  disdain  ;  thus  giving  to  the 
world  the  noblest  proof  of  the  absence  of  all  mercenary 
motive,  and  of  the  sincerity  and  fervor  of  their  devotion 
to  their  country. 

the  end  of  May,  the  American  army.  which 


1777.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WMt,  181 

had  been  augmented  by  recruits  to  almost  ten  thousand 
men,  moved  from  Morristown,  and  took  a  strong  position 
sit  Middlebrook.  The  British,  soon  after,  left  their  en 
campment,  and  general  Howe  endeavored,  by  various 
movements,  to  induce  general  Washington  to  quit  his 
strong  hold  and  meet  him  on  equal  ground.  But  the  latter, 
adhering  to  his  Fabian  system  of  warfare,  determined  to 
remain  in  the  position  he  had  chosen. 

9.  General  Howe,  changing  his  purpose,  transported  his 
srmy  to   Staten   Island,      tie   there   embarked  sixteen 
thousand  troops  on  board  a  large  fleet,  and,  leaving  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  in  command  at  New- York,  put  out  to  sea 
on  the  26th  of  July.     His  destination  was  carefully  kept 
secret.     On  the  20th  of  August,  the  fleet  entered  Chesa 
peake  bay,  and  rendered  it  certain  that  an  attack  upon 
Philadelphia  was  intended.     The  troops  were  landed  at 
Elk  ferry,  in  Maryland,  fifty  miles  south  of  that  city. 

10.  The  American  army  immediately  crossed  the  Dela 
ware,  and,  passing  through  Philadelphia,  directed  its  march, 
towards  the  enemy.     The  people,  weary  of  delays  and 
indecisive  movements,  demanded  that  a  general  engage 
ment  should  be  hazarded  for  the  defence  of  the  metropolis. 
"Washington,  yielding  to  their  wishes,  took  a  position  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  Brandywine  creek,  and  in  the  direction 
of  the  enemy's  route. 

11.  On  the  eleventh  of  September,  the  British  army 
•appeared,  and,  crossing  the  creek  at  several  fords,  com 
menced  an  attack  upon  the  American  right,  which,  after 
:i  short  resistance,  gave  way.     The  other  divisions,  succes 
sively  attacked,  gave  way  in  like  manner,  and  the  rout; 
becoming  general,  a  retreat  was  ordered  to  Chester. 

12.  Several  portions  of  the  American  army,  particularly 
a  brigade  from  Virginia,  exhibited  in  'this  battle  creafi' 
firmness  and  bravery.     The  misconduct  of  others  rendered 
their  bravery  unavailing.     The  American  loss  amounted 
to  twelve  hundred ;  the  British  to  no  more  than  half  that 
number.      The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  took  part  in  the 
engagement  and  was  wounded.     The  next  day,  the  army 
retired  to 'Philadelphia,  and  soon  after  to  Reading,  where 
a  quantity  of  stores  had  been  deposited.     The  retreat  was 
performed  without  a  murmur,  although   many  marched 
without  shoes,  and  slept  on  the  ground  without  blankets, 
On  the  26th  of  September,  general  Howe  entered  Phila 
delphia  in  triumph,,  congress  havi?:'- 

*'.»  Lancaster. 

Q 


IM  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR,  li/7(« 

13.  The  transactions  of  the  contending  armies  at  the 
the  north,  since  the  termination  of  the   expedition  to 
Canada,  now   demand   our  attention.      The   Americans 
halted  at  Crown  Point,  the  British  at  St.  Johns,  and  both, 
employed  the  remainder  of  the  summer  in  building  vessels 
and  making  preparations  to  secure  the  command  of  Lake 
Champlain. 

14.  On  the  llth  of  October,  1776,  the  American  and 
British  squadrons  met,  colonel  Arnold,  who  had  been  a 
sailor  in  his  youth,  commanding  the  former.     After  a  short 
contest,  the  enemy,  not  being  then  able  to  bring  their  whole 
force  into  action,  retired.     The  next  day,  they  returned  to 
the  combat,  and  being  greatly  superior,  drove  the  American 
squadron  before  them,  to  the  head  of  the  lake.     A  sharp 
action  then   took  place;    the  officers   and  men  fought 
gallantly,  but  Arnold  losing  a  part  of  his  force,  and  per 
ceiving  defeat  to  be  inevitable,  ran  the  remainder  of  his 
vessels  on  shore  and  set  them  on  fire. 

15.  Winter  approaching,  governor  Carleton   returned 
Tvith  his  troops  to  Canada.     General  Burgoyne,  who  had 
served  under  him  during  the  last  campaign,  made  a  voyage 
To  England  to  concert  a  plan  for  future  operations.     It  was 
determined  that  a  powerful  army,  departing  from  Montreal, 
should  proceed,  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  to  the  Hudson, 
with  the  view  of  obtaining,  by  the  co-operation  of  the 
army  at  New- York,  the  entire  command  of  that  river. 
All  communication  between  the  states  of  New-England, 
and  the  others  lying  south  of  them,  would  thus  be  pre 
vented.     Either  section,  alone  and  unsupported,  could,  it 
was  supposed,  be  easily  subdued ;  and  the  whole  strength 
of  the  nation  might  then  be  directed  against  the  other. 

16.  Nothing  was  omitted  which  might  insure  the  success 
of  this  project.     Seven  thousand  choice  troops,  to  be  sent 
from  England,  were  allotted  to  the  service.     They  were 
supplied  with  an  excellent  train  of  brass  artillery,  and  with 
every  thing  which  could  add  to  their  efficiency  as  an  army. 
The  command  was  given  to  Burgoyne,  and  several  officers  of 
distinguished  reputation  were  selected  to  serve  under  him. 

17.  General  Schuyler,  of  New- York,  a  worthy  officer, 
whose  talents  were  solid  but  not  brilliant,  had  the  chief 
command  of  the  northern  department.     He  was  indefatiga 
ble  in  making  preparations  for  defence ;  and  such  was  his 
zeal  in  the  cause  of  independence,  and  such  his  deserved 
popularity  in  his  native  state,  that  he  doubtless  accom 
plished  more  than  any  other  person  could  have  done. 


.1777.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  183 

Still,  at  a  late  period  in  the  spring,  the  fortifications  were 
incomplete,  and  but  few  troops  or  munitions  of  war  were 
collected. 

18.  Very  early  in  the  season,  Burgoyne  arrived  at  Que 
bec.     He  immediately  despatched  colonel  St.  Leger  with 
a  party  of  regulars,  tories,  and  Indians,  by  the  way  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  Oswego,  directing  him  to  proceed  thence, 
to  the  Mohawk,  and  join  him  at  Albany.     With  the  main 
army,  augmented,  in  Canada,  to  ten  thousand  men,  ho 
hastened  to  Ticonderoga,  before  which  he  appeared  on  the 
first  of  July.     On  his  way,  he  held  a  conference,  at  ihe 
river  Bouquet,  with  a  large  number  of  savages,  whom 
British  agents  had  persuaded  to  join  the  army. 

19.  The  garrison  of  Ticonderoga,  which  was  then  com 
manded  by  general  St.  Clair,  wTas  insufficient  to  defend  it 
against  so  powerful  a  force.     It  was  evacuated  in  the  night 
of  the  5th,  the  troops  crossing  Lake  Champlain  and  re 
treating  towards  Castleton,  in  Vermont.     The  enemy  pur 
sued,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  their  van  overtook 
and  attacked  the  American  rear,  under  colonels  Francis 
tind  Warner.     The  action  was  warm  and  well  contested ; 
but  other  troops  arriving  to  the  aid  of  the  British,  the 
Americans  were  compelled  to  give  way. 

20.  The  retreat  now  became  precipitate  and  disorderly; 
the  pursuit  rapid  and  persevering.     At  length,  the  republi 
can  army,  diminished  in  number,  exhausted  by  fatigue,  and 
dispirited  by  misfortunes,  arrived,  by  various  routes,  at 
fort  Edward,  on  the  Hudson,  the  head-quarters  of  general 
Schuyler.      These  disastrous  events  spread  terror  and 
tiismay  throughout  the  land.     The  people,  ignorant  of  the 
weakness  of  the  army,  attributed  its  retreat  to  cowardice 
or  treachery,  and  trembled  at  the  dangers  which  menaced 
them  from  the  British,  Germans,  and  savages. 

21.  The  royal   forces,   elated  by   success,   proceeded 
through  the   wilderness  towards  fort    Edward.      Their 
progress  was  slow  and  toilsome.     General  Schuyler,  on 
their  approach,  evacuated  the  fort,  and  retired  across  the 
Hudson  to  Saratoga.     Soon  after,  he  descended  the  river 
to  Stillwatcr  ;  and,  the  British  continuing  to  advance,  he 
retreated,  on  the  14th  of  August,  to  the  islands  at  the- 
confluence  of  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson,  a  few  miles  north 
of  Troy.     About  the  same  time,  intelligence  was  received, 
that  St.  Leger,  having  penetrated   from  Oswego  to  the? 
Mohawk,  had  laid  siege  to  fort  Schuyler,  situated  in  tlw 
present  township  of -Rome. 


184  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1777." 

22.  The  American  general,  before  leaving  fort  Edward, 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  to  his  aid  the  militia  of  New- 
England  and  New- York.     Aroused  by  the  danger  multi 
tudes  obeyed  his  call.     Vermont  poured  forth  her  daring 
Green-Mountain  boys ;  the  other  states  of  New-England 
their  hardy  yeomanry,  ardent  in  the  cause  of  freedom ; 
JNTew-York,  her  valiant  sons,  indignant  at  this  invasion  of 
her  territory,  and  determined  to  protect  their  property  from 
pillage  and  destruction.      These  beset  the  invaders  on 
every  side,  impeding  their  progress,  cutting  off  their  sup 
plies,  and  fatiguing  them  by  incessant  attacks. 

23.  Burgoyne,  finding  it  difficult  to  transport  his  pro 
visions  through  the  wilderness,  despatched  colonel  Baum, 
with  five  hundred  Hessians,  to  seize  a  quantity  of  beef 
and  flour  which  the  Americans  had  collected  and  deposited 
at  Berminglon.     Fortunately,  general  Stark,  at  the  head 
of  a  party  of  New-Hampshire  militia,  had  just  arrived  at 
that  place,  on  his  way  to  the  main  army,  and  been  joined 
by  volunteers  from  the  immediate  neighbourhood.     Baum, 
ascertaining  their  number  to  be  greater  than  his  own, 
halted  near  Bennington,  erected  breastworks,  and  sent 
back  for  a  reinforcement. 

24.  In  several  skirmishes  between  small  detachments, 
the  militia  were  uniformly  successful.     This  sharpening 
their  courage,  Stark  resolved  to  attack  the  main  body. 
On  the  Ifith  of  August,  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  battle  took 
place.     For  two  hours,  the  Hessians  fought  bravely,  but 
their  works,  assaulted  by  braver  troops,  were  at  length 
entered,  and  most  of  the  detachment  either  killed  or  made 
prisoners. 

25.  Just  after  this  action  had  terminated,  colonel  Brey- 
inan  arrived  with  the  reinforcement  sent  to  Baum.     The 
militia,  apprehending  no  danger,  had  dispersed  in  pursuit 
of  plunder  or  the  fugitives.     By  carelessness  was  nearly 
lost  all  that  by  valor  had  been  gained.     Happily,  at  this 
critical  juncture,  colonel  Warner  arrived  from  Manchester 
with  a  continental  regiment,  and  immediately  fell  upon 
Breyman,    The  militia,  rallying,  hastened  to  his  tiid.    The 
battle  continued  until  sunset,  when  the  enemy  retreated, 
iind  under  cover  of  the  night  the  greater  part  effected  their 
escape. 

20.  The  tide  of  fortune  was  now  turned.  The  decisive 
victory  at  Bennington  diffused  confidence  and  joy.  The 
friends  of  independence,  before  depressed  by  disaster  and 
defeat,  were  now  animated  by  the  prospect,  which  ^u:~ 


1777.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  I85i 

tlenly  burst  upon  them,  of  a  glorious  victory  over  an  arro 
gant  and  once  dreaded  enemy.  The  greatest  zeal  and 
activity  were  every  where  displayed.  Again  crowds  of 
militia  flocked  to  the  republican  camp. 

27.  In  a  lew  days,  cheering  intelligence  arrived  from  fort 
Schuyler.     The  garrison  under  colonels  Gansevoort  and 
Willet,  had,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  discouraging  circum 
stances,  made  a  gallant  defence  against  the  forces  of  St. 
Leger.     General  Herkimer,  marching  with  eight  hundred 
militia  to  their  relief,  fell  into  an  ambuscade,  was  defeated 
and  slain ;  but  a  larger  party  was  speedily  collected  and 
immediately  despatched,  under  general  Arnold,  upon  the 
same  service. 

28.  The  Indians,  alarmed  by  their  approach,  and  fa 
tigued  and  disgusted  by  the  protracted  labors  of  the,  siege, 
Threatened  to  abandon  St.  Leger,  if  he  would  not  reliquisli 
his  enterprise.     He  reluctantly  consented,  and  with  the 
loss   of  his   baggage  and  stores  retreated  to  Montreal. 
Burgoyne  was  thus  deprived,  of  his  expected  co-operation, 
and  the  militia  of  that  part  of  the  states  were  enabled  to 
join  the  American  army. 

29.  The  disasters  which  befell  thfs  "army  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  campaign  induced  congress  to  recall  the 
generals  who  commanded  it,  and  to  appoint,  in  their  places, 
generals  Gates,  Lincoln,  and  Arnold.     Having  the  control 
of  more  abundant  and  powerful  means,  they  acted  with 
more  energy  and  boldness.     Gates,  leaving  the  encamp 
ment  on  the  islands,  to  which  Schuyler  had  retreated, 
advanced,  in  the  beginning  of  September,  to  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Stillwater. 

30.  Burgoyne,  after  the  defeat  of  Baum,  was  obliged  to 
have  recourse,  for  provisions,  to  the  magazines  at  fort 
George.    The  laborious  task  of  transporting  them  through 
the  wilderness   to  the  Hudson  being  accomplished,  he 
moved  forward,  and  on  the  17th  of  September,  encamped 
within  four  miles  of  the  Americai^army. 

31.  The  next  day,  the  first  battle  of  Stillwater  was 
fought.    It  was  begun  by  skirmishes  between  the  scouting 
parties  of  the  two  armies,  which  were  respectively  and 
repeatedly  reinforced,  until  nearly  the  whole  of  each  was 
engaged.     Both  fought  with  determined  resolution ;  they 
alternately  drove  and  were  driven  by  each  other.     A  con 
tinual  blaze  of  fire  was  kept  up.     Men,  and  particularly 
officers,  dropped  every  moment  and  on  every  side*    Night 
put  an  end  to  the  conflict. 


186  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1777. 

32.  The  American  army  retired  to  their  camp ;  tlie 
British  lay  on  their  arms  near  the  field  of  battle.     The 
]oss  of  the  former  was  three  hundred  and  nineteen ;  that 
of  the  latter  exceeded  five  hundred.     Each  claimed  the 
victory;   the  consequences  of  defeat  were   felt  by  the 
British  alone.    Their  hopes  of  success  were  diminished, 
their  Indian  allies,  the  Canadians,  and  tories,  were  dis 
heartened  and  deserted  them. 

33.  Pressed  on  all  sides,  Burgovne  made  frequent  and 
urgent  applications  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  at  New- York, 
for  aid,  and  informed  him  that,  in  expectation  of  such  aid, 
he  would  maintain  his  present  position  until  the  12th  of 
October.     He  diminished  the  allowance  of  provisions  to 
his  soldiers,  and  having  waited  until  the  7th,  without  re- 
eeiving  any  intelligence  from  Clinton,  determined  to  make 
another  trial  of  strength  with  his  adversary. 

34.  He  made  dispositions  to  commence  the  action  with 
the  right  wing  of  his  arm)  ;  Gates,  discovering  his  design, 
made  a  sudden  and  vigorous  attack  upon  the  left.     In  a 
short  time,  the  whole  of  both  armies  were  engaged.    This 
battle  was  furious,  obstinate,  and  more  bloody  than  the 
other.  Arnold  was  eminently  distinguished  for  his  bravery 
and  rashness.  Towards  night,  the  enemy,  who  had  fought 
with  desperate  valor,  gave  way.     A  part  of  their  works 
vrere  stormed  and  taken,  and  more  than  two  hundred  men 
made  prisoners. 

35.  Darkness  put   an   end  to  this  action   also.     The 
Americans  lay  upon  their  arms  near  the  enemy's  lines,  in- 
i  ending  to  renew  the  battle  the  next  day;  but  Burgoyne, 
<luring  the  night,  withdrew  to  a  stronger  position.     Gates 
forbore  to  pursue,  believing  that  a  bloodless  victory  was 
now  in  his  power. 

36.  In  the  mean  time,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  despatched 
general  Vaughan  with  three  thousand  men,  to  endeavor  to 
relieve  Burgoyne.     He  ascended  the  Hudson,  and  on  the 
sixth  of  October,  assaulted  and  took  fort  Montgomery; 
hut  instead  of  hastening  forward,  he  consumed  a  whole 
week  in  pillaging  and  burning  Esopus,  and  other  flourish 
ing  villages  on  the  river.     He  perhaps  expected  that  this 
wanton  destruction  of  property  would  draw  off  a  part  of 
the  forces  under  Gates ;  but  it  had  no  other  effect  than  to 
-exasperate  the  inhabitants. 

37.  Burgoyne,  perceiving  that  his  antagonist  was  en 
deavoring  to  surround  him,  retreated  to  the  heights  of 

a*     The  Americans  pursued,  keening  a  sufficient, 


I7T7.J  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR,  187 

force  on  the  east,  bank  of  the  river  to  prevent  him  from 
crossing.  The  situation  of  the  British  troops  was  now 
distressing  in  the  extreme.  Many  of  their  most  valued 
officers  had  been  killed.  Their  strength  was  exhausted 
by  incessant  exertion;  they  were  almost  encircled  by 
their  enemy,  and  were  greatly  annoyed  by  a  continual  and 
destructive  cannonade.  From  this  forlorn  condition  but 
one  mode  of  escape  remained,  a  forced  march  in  the  night 
to  fort  George.  This  expedient  was  resolved  on,  and  pre 
parations  were  made ;  but  the  scouts  sent  out  returned 
with  intelligence  that  all  the  passes  were  guarded  by 
strong  bodies  of  militia. 

38.  An  account  of  provisions  was  then  taken,  and  a 
supply  for  no  more  than  three  days  was  found  on  hand.     No 
hope  of  rescue  within  that  time  could  be  indulged.     Bur- 
goyne  summoned  his  principal  officers  to  a  council.     It  is 
>Eaid  that  while  deliberating,  a  cannon  ball  crossed  the 
table  around  which  they  sat.    By  their  unanimous  advice? 
lie  opened  a  negotiation  with  the  American  general,  and  on 
the  17th  of  October,  surrendered  his  whole  army  prisoners 
of  war. 

39.  Great  were  the  rejoicings  occasioned  by  this  glorious 
victory.     Many  supposed  that  it  would  terminate  the  con 
test.     In  the  joy  of  success,  all  feelings  of  resentment 
Y/ere  forgotten.     From  regard  to  the  feelings  of  the  van 
quished,  general  Gates,  while  they  were  piling  their  arms, 
kept  the  victorious  troops  within  his  camp.     The  British 
officers,  in  social  converse  with  the  Americans,  were  led 
to  forget  their  misfortune,  and  the  troops,  when  on  their 
march  to  Massachusetts,  did  not  receive  from  the  people 
that  vindictive  treatment  which  their  distressing  depre 
dations,  and  those  of  their  fellow  soldiers  under  Vaughan9 
\vould  have  excused,  if  not  justified. 

40.  Against   this  band  of  marauders,   general   Gates 
inarched  soon  after  the  capitulation  was  signed;  but  on 
learning  the  fate  of  Burgoyne,  they  retired  to  New- York. 
About  the  same  time,  the  garrison  left  at  Ticonderoga, 
having  rendered  their  cannon  useless,  returned  to  Canada, 
and  the  northern  department  was  restored  to  perfect  tran- 
tuiility. 

41.  While  the  exertions  of  the  northern  army  were  re 
warded  by  brilliant  success,  that  of  the  south,  equally 
brave  and  meritorious,  but  enfeebled  by  the  detachments 
which  Washington  generously  spared  to  Gates,  sustained 
distressing  reverses.    The  greatest  was  at  Germantown, 


188  REVOLUTIONARY  AVAR.  {177V, 

in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  where  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  was  stationed. 

42.  Upon  this  body,  at  sunrise,  on  the  4th  of  October, 
the  American  general  made  a  bold  and  vigorous  attack.  So 
sudden  and  spirited  was  the  onset,  that  the  enemy,  unable 
to  sustain  it,  fled,  and  a  complete  victory  appeared  in  pros 
pect.     But  six  British  companies,  while  retreating,  threw 
themselves  into  a  large  stone  house,  from  which,  in  entire 
safety,  they  poured  a  destructive  fire  upon  the  American 
troops.     The  pursuit  was  arrested,  and  much  time  con 
sumed  in  a  vain  attempt  to  demolish  this  fortress. 

43.  The  fugitives  rallied,  and  turned  upon  the  assailants. 
Confusion  followed,  and  a  thick  fog,  which  that  moment 
arose,  increased  it.     The  different  divisions,  ignorant  of 
the  positions  and  success  of  the  others,  uncertain  even  as 
to  their  own,  acted  with  indecision  and  timidity.  A  retreat 
was  therefore  directed,  and  the  troops  withdrew  in  good 
order. 

44.  In  this  action,  in  which  fortune  snatched  victory 
from  the  grasp  of  the  Americans,  they  sustained  a  loss  of 
twelve  hundred  men  ;  that  of  the  British  was  less  than  six 
hundred.     But  the  vanquished  sustained  no  loss  of  repu 
tation  nor  confidence.     Their  country  applauded  the  bold 
ness  of  the  attempt,  and  the  enemy  felt  higher  respect  for 
their  courage  and  discipline. 

45.  The  British  army  soon  after  left  Germantown,  and 
marched  to  attack  the  American  posts  on  the  river  Dela 
ware  below  Philadelphia.     On  the  22d  of  October,  a  body 
of  twelve  hundred  Hessians,  commanded  by  count  Donop, 
made  an  intrepid  assault  upon  the  fortifications  at  Red 
Bank.     They  were   repulsed  with  great  loss,  and  their 
gallant  leader  killed. 

46.  Fort  Mifflin,  on  Mud  Island,  was  next  attacked. 
For  six  days  it  was  bravely  defended.     It  was  then  eva 
cuated,  the  works  having  been  almost  demolished  by  the 
enemy's  artillery.     Preparations  being  made  for  a  second 
assault,  with  a  much  larger  force,  upon  trie  post  at  Red 
Bank,  that  was  also  evacuated,  and  thus  was  opened  a  free 
communication  between  the  British  army  and  their  fleet, 
which  had  sailed  round  to  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware. 

47.  After  several  movements  of  the  respective  armies, 
which  had  no  important  result,  general  Washington  with 
drew  to  winter  quarters  in  the  woods  of  Valley  Forge. 
His   troops    were    destitute   of  shoes,  and  might  have 
hpen  tracked  by  thf>  blood  of  their  feet.     They  passed  the 


1777.]  UEVOLUTIONAHY  WAR,  189: 

-winter  in  huts,  suffered  extreme  distress  from  want  of 
clothing  and  of  food,  but  endured  their  privations  without 
a  murmur.  How  strong  must  have  been  their  love  of 
liberty  ?  With  what  lively  gratitude  ought  a  prosperous 
country,  indebted  to  them  for  the  most  valuable  blessings,, 
to  remember  their  sufferings  and  services? 


CHAPTER  XX. 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1778* 

WHILE  the  American  armies  were  contending  in  the 
field,  or  suffering  in  the  camp,  congress  were  occupied  in 
the  performance  of  duties  important  to  the  cause  of  inde 
pendence.  At  first,  this  body  possessed  no  powers,  but 
such  as  were  conferred  by  the  credentials  and  instructions 
given,  by  the  state  legislatures,  to  their  respective  dele 
gates.  Early  in  1776,  a  confederation  of  the  states  was. 
proposed ;  but  until  the  15th  of  November,  1777,  all  the 
obstacles  to  the  measure  could  not  be  surmounted. 

2.  The  "  Articles  of  Confederation"  then  adopted  by 
Congress,  and  subsequently  ratified  by  the  several  assem 
blies,  bound  the  states  in  a  firm  league  of  friendship  with 
each  other,  for  their  common  defence  and  the  security  of 
their  liberties.     Delegates  were  to  be  annually  appointed, 
ivho,  when  assembled  in  congress,  were  authorized  to 
carry  on  war,  to  makepeace,  and  to  exercise- the  powers 
of  sovereignty  in  relation  to  foreign  nations.     They  were 
also  authorized  to  determine  the  number  of  men,  and  the 
amount  -of  money  to  be  raised,  and  to  assign  to  each  state 
its  just  proportion. 

3.  But'so  unwilling  were  the  states  to  relinquish  their 
recently  assumed  independence,  that  they  withheld  from 
congress  the  authority  to  make  laws  which  should  operate 
directly  upon  the  people ;  and  reserved  to  themselves  the 
sole  right  of  raising  their  proportions  of  money  in  such 
manner  as  each  might  deem  most  expedient. 

4.  Congress  also  effected  a  thorough  reform  of  the  com 
missary  department,  in  which  scandalous  frauds  had  been 
Committed.     And  in  order  to  introduce  a  uniform  system 
of  tactics  and  discipline,  they  resolved  that  an  inspector- 
general  should  be  appointed.     Subsequently  they  elected 
to  *hat.  ofHf-*  fh«  baron  Steubeiya  native  of  Prussia*  wh"/* 


190  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1778. 

had  served  in  a  high  station  in  the  army  of  Frederic  the 
great,  and  was  well  versed  in  the  system  of  manceuyres 
introduced  by  that  celebrated  commander. 

5.  The  signal  victory  at  Saratoga  exalted  the  reputation 
of  the  confederated  states,  in  every  part  of  Europe.  The 
French  ministry  no  longer  hesitated  to  acknowledge  their 
independence.  On  the  6th  of  February,  they  concluded, 
with  the  American  commissioners,  treaties  of  commerce 
and  of  alliance,  in  which  they  generously  assented  to 
terms  highly  advantageous  to  the  states.  This  event,  so 
flattering  to  the  hopes  and  the  pride  of  the  people,  occa 
sioned  the  liveliest  joy,  and  the  most  ardent  gratitude  to 
France. 

G.  Among  the  people  of  Great  Britain,  the  defeat  of 
their  favorite  general  produced  astonishment,  dismay,  and 
indignation.  The  most  brilliant  success  was  anticipated ; 
the  most  ignominious  result  had  occurred.  The  pride  of 
the  nation  was  humbled,  and  they  who  had  disapproved  of 
the  war,  poured  upon  the  ministry  a  torrent  of  invective. 
To  increase  the  bitterness  of  their  chagrin,  they  soon 
learned  the  course  which  their  hereditary  enemy  and  rival 
had  resolved  to  pursue. 

7.  It  was  now  determined  in  the  cabinet,  to  grant  to 
America  all  that  she  had  demanded,  in  the  beginning  of  the 
contest.     An  act  was  passed,  declaring  that  parliament 
would  not,  in  future,  impose  any  tax  upon  the  colonies  ; 
and  commissioners  were  sent  over,  authorized  to  proclaim 
a  repeal  of  all  the  offensive  statutes,  and  to  treat  with  the 
constituted  authorities  of  America. 

8.  The  commissioners,  arriving  at  Philadelphia  in  the 
spring,  communicated  to  congress   the  terms  offered  by 
Great  Britain,  which  were  at  once  unanimously  rejected. 
Failing  in  the  use  of  direct  and  honorable  means,  they 
attempted  bribery  and  corruption.     To  Joseph  Reed,   a 
general  in  the  army  and  a  member  of  congress,  an  offer 
was  made  of  ten  thousand  pounds  sterling,  and  any  office 
within  his  majesty's  gift  in  the  colonies,  if  he  would  en 
deavor  to  effect  a  reunion  of  the  two  countries.     "  I  am 
not  worth  purchasing,"  he  nobly  replied,  "  but  such  as  I 
am,  the  king  of  Great  Britain  is  not  rich  enough  to  do  it." 

9.  On  receiving  official  notification  of  the  treaties  con 
cluded  with  her  revolted  colonies,  Great  Britain  declared 
war  against  France;  and  the  ministry,  presuming  that 
assistance  would  be  sent  them,  transmitted  orders  by  th« 
runnoiissioners,  that  Philadelphia  should  be  evaluated, 


1778.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  I9i 

and  the  royal  troops  concentrated  at  New- York.  The 
execution  of  these  orders  devolved  upon  Sir  Henry  Clinton? 
who,  general  Howe  having  resigned,  had  been  appointed 
commander-in-chief.  On  the  18th  of  June,  the  enemy 
quitted  the  city,  and  marched  slowly  eastward. 

10.  Washington,  leaving  his  huts  in  the  forest,  hung 
upon  the  rear  of  the  British  army,  watching  for  a  favorable 
opportunity  to  offer  battle.     On  arriving  at  Monmouth,  in 
New- Jersey,  general  Lee,  who  had  lately  been  exchanged, 
was  ordered  to  take  the  command  of  five  thousand  men, 
and,  early  in  the  morning  of  the  28th,  unless  there  should 
be  powerful  reasons  to  the  contrary,  to  commence  an  at 
tack.    He  was  assured,  that  the  residue  of  the  army 
should  follow  and  give  him  support. 

11.  Lee  made  dispositions  to  attack  accordingly,  but 
perceiving  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  returning  to  meet 
him,  he  retreated.     Washington,  advancing  to  render  the 
promised   support,  saw  him  retiring,  rode  forward  and 
addressed  him  in  language  implying  disapprobation  of  his 
conduct,     He  then   directed  him  to  form  his  men,   on 
ground  which  lie  pointed  out,  and  there  oppose  the  pro 
gress  of  the  enemy. 

12.  These  orders  were  executed  with  firmness.    A 
warm  engagement  ensued,  and  Lee,  when  forced  from  the 
irround,  brought  off  his  troops  in  good  order.    Washington, 
at  thfis  moment,  arrived  with  the  main  body  of  his  army, 
which  joined  in  the  action,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to 
fall  back  to  the  position  from  which  Lee  had  been  driven. 

13.  The  day  had  been  intensely  hot ;  it  was  now  almost 
dark,  and  the  troops  were  much  fatigued.     Further  opera 
tions  were  therefore  deferred  until  the  next  morning.     In 
the  night,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  silently  left  his  position,  and 
continued  his  march  to  New- York.    His  loss  amounted  to 
near  five  hundred  men ;  that  of  the  Americans  to  three 
hundred.    Heat  and  excessive  fatigue  proved  fatal  to 
many. 

14.  Lee,  irritable  and  proud,  could  not  forget  the  manner 
in  which  Washington  had  addressed  him ;  and  in  two 
passionate  letters,  demanded  reparation.    A  court  martial 
was  instituted  ;  he  was  found  guilty  of  misconduct  on  the 
day  of  battle,  and  of  disrespect  to  the  commander-in-chief, 
and  was  suspended  from  command  for  one  year.  He  never 
afterwards  joined  the  army,  but  died  in  seclusion  just  be 
fore  the  close  of  the  war. 

'XI 5.  The  enemy  having  entered  New- York.  Washington 


193  HE  VOLUTION  AttY  WAR.  [I7?b. 

conducted  his  army  to  White  Plains.  Congress  returned 
to  Philidelphia ;  and  in  July  received,  with  inexpressible 
joy,  a  letter  from  the  count  d'  Estaing,  announcing  his 
arrival  on  the  coast  of  the  United  States,  with  a  largo 
fleet,  which  had  been  sent,  by  the  king  of  France,  to  assist 
them  in  their  struggle  for  independence. 

16.  The  count  intended  to  surprise  admiral  Howe  in 
the  Delaware,  but  adverse  winds  detained  him  on  tho 
passage,  until  the  British  fleet  had  sailed  for  New-York. 
He  appeared  before  that  harbor,  but  on  sounding  found 
that  his  largest  ships  could  not  enter  it.    A  combined 
attack,  by  land  and  water,  upon  the  British   forces  at 
Newport,  in  Rhode  Island,  was  then  projected. 

17.  General  Sullivan,  who  had  been  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  troops,  called  upon  the  militia  of  New-England 
to  aid  him  in  the  enterprise.     His  army  soon  amounted 
to  ten  thousand  men,  and,  as  he  was  supported  by  the 
fleet,   he   felt   confident   of  success.     On  the   ninth   of 
August,  he  took  a  position  on  the  north  end  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  afterwards  moved  nearer  to  Newport.    Admi 
ral  Howe,  having  received  a  reinforcement,  now  appeared 
before  the  harbor,  and  the  count  instantly  put  to  sea  tu 
attack  him. 

18.  While  making  the  preparatory  manoeuvres,  a  fimonff 
Storm  came  on,  which  damaged  and  dis|iersed  both  fleets. 
As  soon  as  the  weather  would  permif,-e'ach  comrrrander 
sought  the  port  from  which  he  had  sailed.     The  army, 
intent  upon   their  own  object,  witnessed  with  joy  tlm 
return  of  the  French  fleet ;  and  "great  was  their  disap 
pointment  when  the  count  announced  his  intention  of 
proceeding  to   Boston  to  refit.     The  American  officers 
remonstrated,  but  he  was  inflexible  and  departed. 

19.  The  army,  deserted  by  the  fleet,  could  remain  no 
longer,  with  safety,  on  the  island,  as  the  enemy  might 
easily  transport,  by  water,  large  reinforcements  from  New- 
York  to  Newport.      General  Sullivan  immediately  re 
treated  to  his  first  position.    He  was  pursued,  and  shortly 
after  halting,  was  attacked  by  the  enemy.     They  were 
gallantly  resisted  and  repulsed  with  loss. 

20.  The  next  day,  the  two  armies  cannonaded  eacli 
other,  and  the  succeeding  night  the  American  general, 
deceiving  the  enemy  by  a  show  of  resistance  to  tho 
last,  made  a  skilful  retreat  to  the  continent.    A  few  hours 
afterwards,  the  British  received  such  an  augmentation  of 
their  force,  that  all  resistance,  on  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 


irt&j  REVOLUTIONARY  WAIl;  litf 

cans,  would  have  been  vain*    At  the  close  of  the  season, 
the  French  fleet  sailed  to  the  West  Indies. 

21.  During  this  year,  the  British  troops  and  their  allies 
displayed,  in  several  instances,  a  degree  of  barbarity  sel 
dom  equalled  in  contests  between  civilized  nations.  That 
they  were  contending  against  revolted  subjects,  seemed 
to  release  them,  in  tii^h*  view,'  from  all  regard  to  the 
common  usages  of  .war.  The  late  alliance  with  France, 
the  hated  rival  of  their  nation,  iricriekyd ...their  hostility. 
Instead  of  striving  to  conquer  an  honorable  foe,  they 
thirsted 'aS  for  vengeance  on  a  criminal  and  outlaw. 

22;  With  such  vindictive  feelings,  Wyoming,  a  happy 
and -flourishing  seltlerftent  in  Pennsylvania,  was  attacked 
by  a  band  of  tories  and  Indians.  The  men  were  butch 
ered,  the  houses  burned,  and  the  cattle  driven  off  or  killed.' 
Those  who  had  been  made  widote  and  orphans  were  left 
without  shelter  and  without  food.  -  Seldom  has  war- 
spread  distress  and  ruin  over  a  more  delightful  region. 
New-Bedford,  Martha's- Vineyard,  Eggh arbor,  and  Cher-, 
?y valley,  were  also  visited  and  ravaged 'by  the  enemy. 
All  the  property  within  reach'  was  destroyed,  and  multi 
tudes  of  peaceful  and  unoffending  inhabitants  were  reduced 
to  poverty  and  wretchedness. 

S3.  But  in 'no  instance  did  the  enemy  evince  more 
ferocious i  unrelenting  cruelty  than  in  their  attack  Upon 
colonel  Baylor's  troop  'of  light  dragoons.;  While  asleep 
in  a  barn  at  Tappan,  they  were  surprised 'by  a  party  under 
general  Grey,  who  commanded  his  soldiers  -to  use  the 
bayonet- only,  and' to  give  the  rebels  no  quarter.  Incapu- 
1  >le  of '  defence,  they  sued  for  mercy/  But  the  most 
l>athetie';  supplications  were  heard  without  awakening 
compassion  in  •'trie  commander.-  Nearly  one  half  of  the 
troop  Were1  killed.  To  many,  'repeated  thrusts  were  bar 
barously  given  us  long  as:  signs  of  life -retttained.  .Several 
who  had  nine,  ten,  and  eleven1  slabs  through  the  bod)7, 
and  were  left  for  dead,  afterwards-  recovered.  A  few 
escaped,  and  forty  were  saved  by  the  humanity  of  a  Brit 
ish  eapttaih,  \vho  <Jared  to  disobey  the  orders  of  his  general* 
-  '24. :  Late  in:  the  fall,  the  army  und3£  Washington  efected 
]iute:rnear  Middlebrook,  in  New-Jersey,  in  which  they 
passed  the  winter.  '  In  this  campaign,  but  little  on  either 
side  w-aH  accomplished*  The  alliance  with  France  gave 
birth  to  Expectations  which  events  did  not^fulfll ;  yet  the 
nreseince:of  her  fleets  on  the  coast  deranged  the  plans  of 
ih%  cfiemy,  and  Induced  therh-tb  relinquish  a  pah  of  their 

R 


1D4  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1779. 

conquests.  At  the  close  of  the  year,  it  was  apparent  that 
Great  Britain  had  made  no  progress  in  the  accomplishment 
yf  her  purposes.  * 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1779. 

THE  campaign  of  1779,  was  distinguished  by  a  change 
of  the  theatre  of  war,  from  the  northern  to  the  southern 
section  of  the  confederacy.  Thither  the  enemy  were 
invited  by  the  prospect  of  easier  victory.  The  country 
was  rendered  weak  by  its  scattered  population,  by  the 
multitude  of  slaves,  and  by  the  number  of  tories  inter 
mingled  with  the  whigs. 

2.  Near  the  close  of  the  preceding  year,  lieutenant- 
colonel  Campbell,  with  2500  men,  sailed  from  New- York 
to  the  coast  of  Georgia,  and  landed  his  troops.    Marching 
towards  Savannah,  the  capital,  he  met  on  his  route  a  small 
body  of  Americans,  whom  he  defeated,  and  immediately 
took  possession  of  the  city.     A  detachment  from  Florida 
under  general  Prevost  invested  Sunbury,  which,  after  the 
fall  of  the  capital,  surrendered  at  discretion.     These  were 
the  only  military  posts  in  Georgia.    All  the  troops  that 
could  escape  retreated  into  South-Carolina. 

3.  Soon  after  the  conquest  of  Georgia,  general  Lincoln 
took  command  of  the  American  troops  in  the  southern 
department.   In  April,  leaving  South- Carolina,  he  marched 
into  the  interior  of  Georgia ;  upon  which  the  British  army, 
entering  the  state  he  had  left,  invested  Charleston,  the 
capital.    Lincoln  hastened  back  to  its  defence.    On  hearing 
uf  his  approach,  the  enemy  retired  to  Stono  ferry.     Thither 
Lincoln  pursued  them.     An  indecisive  action  was  fought ; 
and  a  few  days  afterwards,  they  continued  their  retreat  to 
Savannah. 

4.  The  heat  of  the  season  suspended  farther  operations 
until  September.     Count  d'Estaing,  with  a  fleet  carrying 
tiOOO  troops,  then  arrived  on  the  coast.     The  two  armies, 
in  concert,  laid  siege  to  Savannah.    At  the  expiration  of 
a  month,  the  count,  impatient  of  delay,  insisted  that  the 
siege  should  be  abandoned,  or  that  a  combined  assault 
upon  the  enemy's  works  should  immediately  be  made. 
General  Lincoln  determined  upon  an  assault.     Great 


1779.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  105 

gallantry  was  displayed  by  the  French  and  American,  but 
greater  by  the  British  troops.  They  repulsed  the  assail 
ants,  killing  and  wounding  nearly  a  thousand  men,  and 
sustaining,  on  their  part,  but  little  loss.  The  -count 
Pulaski,  a  celebrated  Polish  nobleman,  in  the  service  of 
the  states,  was  mortally  wounded.  The  next  day  the 
siege  was  raised,  the  French  returning  home,  and  the 
Americans  to  South-Carolina* 

5.  In  the  midst  of  these  events,  general  Matthews, 
sailing  from  New- York,  conducted  an  expedition  against 
Virginia.  On  the  10th  of  May,  he  took  possession  of 
Portsmouth,  without  opposition,  and  ravaged,  for  two 
weeks,  that  city  and  the  adjacent  country.  The  booty 
obtained,  and  the  property  destroyed,  were  of  immense 
value.  Before  the  expiration  of  May,  the  party  returned 
to  New- York. 

G.  Early  in  the  season,  colonel  Clarke,  of  Virginia,  who 
was  stationed  at  Kaskaskia,  on  the  Mississippi,  achieved 
an  enterprise  conspicuous  for  boldness  of  design,  and 
evincing  uncommon  hardihood  in  its  execution.  With 
only  one  hundred  and  thirty  men,  he  penetrated  through 
tiie  wilderness,  to  St.  Vincents,  a  British  post  on  the 
"VYabash,  in  the  heart  of  the  Indian  country.  His  route 
lay  across  deep  swamps  and  morasses.  For  four  or  five 
miles  the  party  waded  through  water,  often  as  high  as  the 
breast.  After  a  march  of  sixteen  days,  they  reached  the 
town,  which,  having  no  intimation  of  their  approach,  sur 
rendered  without  resistance.  A  short  time  after,  the  fort 
capitulated.  This  fortunate  achievement  arrested  an 
expedition  which  the  enemy  had  projected  against  the 
frontiers  of  Virginia,  and  detached  several  tribes  of  Indians 
from  the  British  interest. 

7.  The  atrocities  committed  at  Wyoming,  and  at  seve 
ral  settlements  in  New- York,  cried  aloud  for  vengeance. 
Congress,  assembling  an  army  of  4000  men,  gave  the  com 
mand  of  it  to  general  Sullivan,  and  directed  him  to  conduct 
it  into  the  country  inhabited  by  the  savages,  and  retort 
upon  them  their  own  system  of  warfare.     Of  this  army, 
one  division  marched  from  the  Mohawk,  the  other  from 
Wyoming,  and  both  forming  a  junction  on  the  Susque- 
hannah,  proceeded,  on  the  22d  of  August,  towards  the 
Seneca  lake. 

8.  On  an  advantageous  position,  the  Indians,  in  con 
junction  with  200  tories,  had  erected  fortifications  to 
oppose  their  progress.    These  were  assaulted ;  the  enemy 


.196 

fiftie^  a  slight/ resistance, -gave  way,,  and  disappear^  jn, the 
woods.  As  the  army  aqpano^d  into  itie  ;>vestern;  part  of 
the,  state  flf  New^YorJi,  that  region  no\y  .so  fertjiaand. 
populous,'the  Indians  deserted  their  towns,  t\\e.  appearance 
of  which,  denoted, a  higher  state  off  civilization;  than  fyad 
ever. before  been  witnessed- in  (he  North. American  wil 
derness.  The  houses  were,  commodious  j ,  the,  apple  ami 
peach-trees  numerous,  and  the  crop:?  q£ .c^iyv the,n,.  growing 
abundant;.  All  were  destroyed ;  not  3  vestige  pf  Julian 
industry  \vas  permitted  to  exist. 

9.  Haying  accomplished  .this,  wprk,  jpf  vengeance,  severe 
but  deserved,  and  essential  to  the  tuture  safety  of  the 
whites,  general  Sullivan  returned  to  Easton,  in  Pen.psyk 
Tania,  where  he  arrived  about  the  mickjte  oi^  October. 
His  whole  loss,  by  sickness  and  the  enepiy,  ampuntpi-U? 
but  forty  men. 

1,0.  On  the  fir st  pf  July,  general  Tryon  Bailed  from  New- 
York,  with  a  large  bjody  of  troops,  and  landing  on  the  cpast 
r)f  Connecticut,  plundered  New-Haven,  and  laid  Fairfield 
and  Norwalk  in  ashes.  Before  his  return,  general  Wayjie? 
with  a  detachment  from  the  American  army,  made  a  daring 
Jissault  upon  Stoney  Point,  a  strongly  fortified  post  on  tlje 
Hudson.  ?  About  twelve  at  night,  the  troops,  \v:ith  unlo^d^d 
muskets^  arrived  before  the  fljyaes.  ,'fjiey  were  receive^ 
with  a  tremendous  discharge  of  graper,sl\ot  and  musketry, 
Hushing  forward,,  they  mounted  the  wplls,  and  using  th^ 
bayonet  only,  were  soon  in, complete possessipn'of  the  fort. 

11.  A  more  gallant  exploit  has  seldom  been  performed; 
and  the  humanity  of  the  victors  was  equal  to  their  valor. 
Notwithstanding  the  devastations  in,  Connecticut,  and  I)IQ 
butchery  of  Baylor's  troop,  the  scene  of  which  was  near, 
not  an  individual  suffered  after  resistance  had  cease^L 
Of  the  enemy,  sixty  were  killed,  and  upwards  of.  fiye  hun 
dred  made  prisoners.     The  loss  of  t-ha  Americans  was 
comparatively  small.   A  gold  medal,  presented  by  congress,, 
rewarded  the  heroism  of  the  victor.  ,     ,     1 

12.  In  September,  a  bloody  naval  battle  was  fouglit, 
near  the  coast  of  Scotland,  in  which  John  Paul  Joaes 
acquired  the  reputation.of  a  daring  and  fortunate  comma^- 
der.   He  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  but  had  been  appointed, 
by  the  American  congress,  a  captain  in  their  navy,  and 
then  commanded  a  squadron  fitted  out  in  the  ports  pf 
France.    At  half  past  seven  in.  the  evening,  his  own  s,hipr 
-fche  Bon  homme  Richard,  of  40  guns,  engaged  tbe  'Serapis^ 
•fc  British,  frigate  of  44.    A  ft  or  the  actwa-nad  continued 


1779.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR,  197 

an  hour*  the  two  frigates  approached  so  near  to  each  other 
that  Jones,  seizing  the  opportunity,  lashed  them  together. 

13.  The  battle  now  became  furious,  and  the  carnage 
horrible.  The  Serapis  was  on  fire  not  less  than  ten  times ; 
and  often  both  frigates  were  on  fire  at  the  same  moment, 
presenting  a  sublime  and  dreadful  spectacle.  A.t  length, 
the  Alliance,  one  of  Jones'  squadron,  came  to  his  assist 
ance  ;  but  the  two  frigates  being  fastened  together,  many 
of  her  shot  struck  the  Bon  homme  Richard.  At  ten  o'clock, 
the  Serapis  surrendered.  Her  successful  antagonist  was 
so  shattered,  that  the  crew  were  obliged  to  leave  her  im 
mediately,  and  she  soon  after  sunk.  The  Pallas,  which 
was  also  one  of  Jones'  squadron,  engaged  at  the  same  time 
and  captured  the  Countess  of  Scarborough.  The  squadron 
with  the  prizes  then  sailed  for  Holland,  and  arrived  there 
in  safety. 

14>  At  the  close  of  the  season,  the  northern  army  retired 
into  winter-quarters,  one  division  nearMorristown,in  New- 
Jersey,  and  the  other  in  the  vicinity  of  West  Point,  an 
important  post  in  the  highlands.  Here  they  endured  severe 
nnd  constant  suffering  from  cold,  and  nakedness,  and  hun 
ger.  Sometimes  half  the  usual  allowance,  often  less,  was 
distributed  to  the  troops ;  and  more  than  once  the  provi 
sions  were  wholly  exhausted. 

15.  Application  for  relief  was  made  to  the  magistrates 
of 'the  neighborhood,  and  intimations  were  given  that  pro 
visions,  so  pressing  were  the  wants  of  the  army,  would 
be  seized  by  force,  if  not  furnished  voluntarily.     The 
magistrates  promptly  attended  to  the  call.     They  levied 
contributions  arbitrarily  from  the  people,  who  submitted 
to  these  exactions  with  a  degree  of  patriotism  equalled 
only  by  that  displayed  by  the  soldiers  in  the  patient  en- 
dursnce  of  distress. 

16.  Derangement  in  the  finances  produced  these  suffer 
ings.     Large  sums  had  been  annually  raised  and  expended ; 
and  the  ability  of  the  people  to  pay  taxes  had  progressively 
decreased.     To  supply  deficiencies,  paper  money,  to  the 
amount  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  dollars, 
had  been  issued.     This  gradually  depreciated,  and,  at  the 
close  of  1779,  thirty  dollars  in  paper  were  of  no  more  value 
than  one  in  specie.     To  purchase  provisions  with  this 
money  was  at  first  difficult,  and  then  impossible;  and 
congress  now  found  their  funds  and  their  credit  exhausted. 

17.  A  change  of  system  was  necessary.     For  the  supply 
of  the  army,  each  state  was  directed  to  furnish  a  certain 

R  2 


108  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.          [1760. 

quantity  of  provisions  and  forage.  Loans  were  solicited 
irom  the  people,  and  nearly  a  million  of  dollars  was  raised 
by  bills  drawn  upon  the  American  agents  in  Europe,  in 
anticipation  of  loans  which  they  had  been  authorized  to 
procure.  These  expedients  afforded  but  temporary  and 
partial  relief. 

18.  No  class  of  persons  suffered  more  from  the  depre 
ciation  of  paper  money  than  the  army,  and  especially  the 
officers.  The  pay,  even  of  those  of  the  highest  grade, 
was  rendered  insufficient  to  provide  them  with  necessary 
clothing.  Discontent  began  to  pervade  the  whole  army. 
It  required  all  the  enthusiastic  patriotism  which  distin 
guishes  the  soldier  of  principle  ;  all  that  ardent  attachment 
to  freedom  which  brought  them  into  the  field ;  all  the 
influence  of  the  commander-in-chief,  whom  they  almost 
adored,  to  retain  in  the  service  men  who  felt  themselves 
cruelly  neglected  by  the  country  whose  battles  they  fought. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1780, 

THE  first  military  operations  of  the  enemy,  in  the  >vesr 
1780,  were  directed  against  Charleston,  the  capital  of 
^South-Carolina.  In  the  beginning  of  February,  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  appeared  before  that  place,  at  the  head  of  a  part 
of  his  army.  The  assembly,  which  was  then  sitting, 
delegated  to  governor  Rutledge,  a  patriot  of  splendid 
talents,  and  to  his  council,  "  the  power  to  do  every  thin# 
necessary  for  the  public  good,  except  taking  away  the  life 
of  a  citizen,"  and  adjourned.  Armed  with  this  extraordi 
nary  power,  he  made  great  exertions  to  call  into  action  the 
strength  of  the  state,  and  to  place  its  capital  in  a  posture 
of  defence. 

2.  The  people  of  the  country  disregarded  his  repeated 
calls.  Not  more  than  two  hundred  repaired  to  Charleston. 
The  garrison,  commanded  by  general  Lincoln,  consisted  of 
a  body  of  militia  from  the  country,  of  the  citizens,  of  one 
thousand  North-Carolina  militia,  and  of  two  thousand  re 
gulars.    The  number  of  the  enemy,  when  all  their  rein 
forcements  had  arrived,  amounted  to  nine  thousand. 

3.  On  the  1st  of  April,  the  siege  was  begun  in  form,  by 
the  erection  of  works  at  the  distance  of  eleven 


1780.J  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  190 

yards  from  the  city.  On  the  9th,  the  fleet,  propelled  by  a 
strong  wind,  passed  the  forts  on  Sullivan's  Island, -without 
stopping  to  return  their  fire",  and  gained  entire  com 
mand'  of  the  harbor.  On  the  14th,  lieutenant-colonel 
Tarleton  surprised  a  body  of  cavalry,  which,  to  preserve  u 
communication  with  .the  country,  had  been  stationed  at 
Monk?s:coraer. .:  Soon  after;  batteries  were  erected  nearer 
the  city,  from  which  the  fire  was  incessant  arid  destruc 
tive. 

4.  An  offer  to  capitulate  was  then  made ;  but  the  British 
commander  refused  to  acee'pt  the  terms  proposed.   On  his 
part,  terms  were  offered,  which  were  rejected  by  general 
Lincoln.     The   siege  was  then   pressed  with  increased 
vigor,  and  approaches  made  to  within  musket-shot  of  tlio 
American  lines.    The  soldiers  within  were  often  killed  at; 
their  guns  by  the  enemy's  marksmen.    ' 

5.  The  citizens,  'whose  intercession  had  induced  general 
Lincoln  to  determine  to 'defend  the  place,  perceiving  that 
preparations  for  an  assault  were  in  forwardness,  and  seeing 
;«o  hope  of  relief  or 'escape,  now  requested' him-  to  accept 
the  terms  which  Sir  Henry  Clinton  had  proposed.     A  ne 
gotiation  between  the   two  commanders  'was-,  in  conse 
quence,  opened,  and  on  the  12th  of  May,  the  capitulation 
was  signed. 

6.  The  capital  having    surrendered,-  measures   were 
adopted  to  overawe  the  inhabitants  of  the  country,,  and 
induce  them  to  return  to  their  allegiance  to  the  king. 
Garrisons  were  placed  in  different  parts  of  the  state,  and 
liOUO  men  were  despatched  towards  North-Carolina,  to 
repel  several  parties  of  militia,  who  were  -hastening  to  the 
relief  of  Charleston.     Colonel  Tarleton,  making  a  rapid 
march  of  one  hundred  and  five  miles  in  fifty-four  hours, 
met,  at  the  Waxhaws,  and  attacked  one  of  these  parties, 
commanded  by  colonel  Bufordi'    His  force/being  superior 
was  soon  victorious.     The  vanquished,  ceasing  to  resist, 
implored  for  quarter.     Their  cries  were  disregarded.   Up 
wards  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  were  killed,  or  too  bacHy 
wounded  to  be  removed  from  the  field.     This  barbarous 
massacre  spread  dismay  throughout  the  country,  and  gave 
a  sanguinary  character  to  future  conflicts. 

7.  To  avoid  being  treated  as  enemies,  the  greater  part 
of  the  inhabitants  either  ^ave  their  parole  as  prisqne.rs, 
or  submitted  to  become '  subjects  of  the  king.  S  r 
Henry -Clinton,  afterward  •,  by  proclamation,  discharged  the 
former  from  their  parole  and  called  upon  all  to  embody 


COO  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.          [1730. 

as  militia  in  the  service  of  Great  Britain.  Indignant  at 
this  dishonorable  conduct,  which  left  them  only  the  alter 
native  of  fighting  for  or  against  their  country,  multitudes, 
seizing  their  arms,  resolved  on  a  vindictive  war  with  their 
invaders. 

8.  A  party,  who  had  taken  refuge  in  North-Carolina, 
chose   colonel  Sumpter  their   leader.    At  the   head  of 
these,  he  returned  to  his  own  state,  attacked  and  defeated 
several  scattered  detachments  from  the  British  army.     In 
one  engagement,  so  decisive  was  his  victory,  that  nine 
only  out  of  nearly  three  hundred  escaped.     By  a  succes 
sion  of  gallant  enterprises,  he  reanimated  the  friends  of 
freedom,  and  a  spirit  of  determined  hostility  to  Great 
Britain  was  again  manifested  in  every  part  of  the  state. 

9.  This  spirit  was  cherished  by  the  approach,  from  the 
north,  of  4000  men,  principally  continentals,  under  the 
command  of  general  Gates.     On  their  march  through  a 
sterile  country,  they  endured  all  the  evils  and  distresses  of 
extreme  famine*     Lord  Cornwallis,  whom  Clinton,  on  his 
return  to  New- York,  had  left  commander-in-chief,  hasten 
ed  to  oppose,   in  person,  this  victorious  general.     He 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  two  thousand  veteran  troops 
who  had  before  been  stationed  at  Camden,  on  the  northern 
border  of  the  state. 

10.  On  the  night  of  the  15th  of  August,  he  marched, 
with  his  whole  force,  to  attack  the  Americans  in  their 
camp  at  Clermont.     They,  at  the  same  hour,  began  to 
move  towards  Camden.     The  advanced  parties  met.  in  thn 
night  and  engaged*     In  several  skirmishes  which  took 
place,  the  British  obtained  the  advantage.     This  made  a 
deep  impression  on  the  militia,  whose  spirits  were  depress 
ed  by  gloomy  forebodings. 

1 1.  When  the  morning  dawned,  the  enemy  advanced  to 
the  attack.     At  the  first  onset,  the  Virginia  militia  fled 
from  the  field,  and  their  example  was  followed  by  others. 
The  continentals,  though  left  alone  to  contend  with  supe 
rior  numbers,  maintained  the  conflict  with  great  firmness. 
For  a  short  time,  they  had  the  advantage  of  their  opponents, 
but  were  at  length  overpowered,  and  the  flight  became 
general. 

12.  The  fugitives  were  pursued  by  Tarleton^s  legion 
with  relentless  fury.     When  all  were  killed,  captured  or 
dispersed,  the  pursuers,  with  speed  unchecked,  took  the 
route  towards  Sumpter's  encampment.     This  active  par 
tisan,  who  had  lately  been  victorious  in  a  -skirmish,  retreat- 


1780.3 

ed  precipitately,  on  hearing  of  the  defeat  of -Gates.  . .  A£ 
the  jCatawba  ford,  supposing  he .  was  beyond ,  danger*,  li^ 
halted,  that  his  troops, .who ^^^li^j^^^i^^jrQr^a. 


His  sentinels  .slept  at  jfe^rr^s^^^d^^^eimi'^p^g  ijjip 
his  camp  'before  preparations  cpi44  fe.rpa-de,  for  defetri'c,^ 
Between  three  an d ; ibur , hundred ^;ere- filled  -,pfr  wop  "* 
The  remainder  wer;^ .diBpe^^e/d  ,i» .t^^pd^.;'  tKre^ 
dred  prisoners, \yeye  released;  «  " 
fell  into  the  power  p£  1  * 

13.  Again  suppo$in| 
aid  opted  measures  .of 
latent  inclinatio 

leaving  'Once .  suOi^*4»u^ry\(»(, . -%»f*tv«  *«ju«^»j.  ,^^  f^tf.  y*TT  >  TT?*  \  "•**^  *?*  *^ **' 
of  congress,  should, be?de(p.rwed'fftl.t^airr  Pfio^e|ty  ikyt}  Ijjiif. 
prisoned;;  and  tlta^aU,  whp!h^drj9iiqe,|3^r^  9,1111^  witiftjip 
IJritishj  and  afterwards ^^joineAtJLe^Be^caj^*  slWliliufSr 
death.    In  consequence  of  the,$f3  orders,  s 


14.  In  these  .times  of  :Qwfusi<?n,  find  di 
«hi©Vous  effects  of  «kva^ry  in  fa.c4Ut(a,t|rig  ^, : 
the  country,  became  apparent.     As  the  slaves  had 
interest  at  stake^  the  subjfr|ati0n!#£  thp,  g 

teip  of  no  consequent  tpth$ra.  .  In$te;a 
Defence,  they,  by  a  yjiri^ty  <jf  means,4hr^Wr,t}ji^ 
•th^ir  littlepinfluenee-:int.o  thle ppposHe.-SGal^n .-• 

15.  There  were/yet  some; oitigert;^  >y^o»  W' 
-ndheifed'With  firmness  to.the  cause  0f,  .in^pep^c^c^.  ,  /0i' 
these,  in  one  part  of ?  the  ,&taterg«^a-!  §^i^p[ter  -\yas ..i'lio 
ieader,  in  amittifir,;  f eneral  Marioji.[r.Th^  cavalry 4f)£tfyo 
latter  t\^ere  so  Tlestitufe.of-  the-w^eap^ne  rp,F7w^9  ^h^t  t 
were  obliged  to  cut  their  swords  from  the  saws , -of,  .,t 
suw-millsi    -He  was  so  successful  -{in.;  ooncea 

in  woods  and /maTshes-,  that -..the <&ti&myWei® 
attack  or  discover  .  himi  .-Fremr-'these.^^^ 
often  sallied  forth, 'and" fell  unexpectedly 
tlie  ememy,  when  maTGhingthk-ough  the  pmwtry;f  0r 
in  garrisons- to  overawe  the  hihatfitants>-,;  In.i 
sallies,  he  rolease^d^nef- hundred  ;ajid.  fifty  ^ 
"captured  at  Gfirndem •" :  His  repeated  an&^oc^s^ 
sion;s  preserved  a/live  the  spirit  ofr resistance*  ftnd 
fame  as  a  partizan  was  never  tarnished  by'glny,yi. 
ther  laws  of  Wat  or 'iiunnanityi    /_••  £ ) 

16...  Of  those  who  submitted:  through  -fear/,, odj  ffw^- 
lachmerit  to  ;the  royal  causey -major  'Ferguson,^  British 
officer  of  dlstintrnished  merit,  was  , 


202  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1780. 

He  was  despatched,  %  CornWallis,  into  the  western  part 
of  North- Carolina,  where,  other  tories  joining  him,  his 
force  was  augmented  to  1400  men.  An  enterprise  against 
this  party  was  concerted  by  the  commanders  of  the  militia, 
in  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  two  Carolinas  and  Virginia. 
About  the  1st  of  October,  they,  by  great  exertions,  assem 
bled  3000  men  at  Gilbert-town.  From  these,  fifteen  hun 
dred  choice  riflemen  were  selected ;  who,  mounted  on  the 
best  horses,  hastened  to  the  attack  of  Ferguson. 

17.  He  awaited  them  on  the  top  of  King's  mountain. 
The  militia,  in  three  divisions,  led  by  colonels  Cleveland, 
Shelby,  and  Campbell,  ascended  it  in  different  directions. 
These  divisions,  successively  arriving,  were  each  repulsed ; 
but  each,  when  the  enemy  by  an  attack  from  a  different 
quarter,  were  recalled  from  pursuit,  returned  again  to  the 
charge.     In  this  manner  the  action  was  continued  for  an 
hour  with  great  spirit.     Ferguson  was  then  killed,  and 
with  him  expired  the  courage  of  his  party.    Eight  hun 
dred  threw  down  their  arms  and  became  prisoners.     One 
hundred  and  fifty  were  killed.    Very  few  of  the  assailants 
fell. 

18.  Cornwallis,  confident  of  his  ability  to  subjugate  the 
state,  had  followed  Ferguson  into  North-Carolina.    Re 
ceiving  notice  of  his  entire  defeat,  he  returned  and  took 
post  at  Winnsborough.    As  he  retired,  Gates,  who  had 
assembled  an  army  of  1400  men,  advanced  to  Charlotte, 
where  he  determined  to  pass  the  winter.    He  was  soon 
after  recalled  by  congress,  and,  on  the  recommendation  of 
Washington,  general  Greene  was  withdrawn  from  the 
northern  army  to  take  command  of  the  department  of  the 
south. 

19.  By  the  northern  army,  which,  as  has  been  stated, 
was  posted  at  West-Point  and  Morristown,  little  more 
was  attempted,  during  the  year,  than  to  watch  the  motions 
of  the  enemy,  in  New- York,  and  protect  the  inhabitants 
from  their  incursions.     The  troops  unfed,  unpaid,  and 
unemployed,  discovered,  at  various  times,  a  disposition  to 
mutiny.     On  these  occasions,  the  British  commander,  by 
means  of  emissaries  sent  among  them,  invited  them  to 
yepair  to  the  city,  where  he  promised  them  comfort  and 
abundance.    His  invitations  were  disregarded.    Relief 
from  distress  was  all  they  sought,  and  when  that  was  ob 
tained,  they  cheerfully  returned  to  their  duty. 

20.  In  July,  a  French  squadron  under  admiral  Ternay, 
bringing  6000  troops,  commanded  by  count  Rodiambeam 


1780.]  BE  VOLUTION  ARY  WAR.  203 

arrived  at  Rhode  Island,  which  had  previously  been  evac 
uated  by  the  enemy ;  they  were  immediately  blockaded 
in  the  harbor  they  had  entered,  by  a  British  fleet.  Rein- 
forced  by  these  troops,  Washington  determined  to  attack 
New- York ;  the  army  marched  to  stations  nearer  the  city., 
and  rejoiced  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  accomplish 
something  for  their  country ;  but  the  arrival  from  Eng 
land  of  another  fleet,  under  admiral  Rodney,  disconcerted 
the  plan  which  had  been  formed. 

21.  Defeat  at  the   south  and  disappointment  at  the 
north  overshadowed  the  land  with  gloom ;  but  intelli 
gence  that  treason  had  appeared  in  the  American  camp 
occasioned   amazement    and    alarm.      The    traitor  was 
Arnold,  whom  bravery  in  battle,  and  fortitude  in  suffering, 
had  placed  high  in  the  affections  of  the  people. 

22.  Upon  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia,  by  the  enemy, 
in  1778,  he  was  appointed  commander  of  that  station. 
Here,  indulging  in  all  the  pleasures  of  an  expensive  equi 
page  and  sumptuous  table,  he  contracted  debts  which  he 
was   unable   to  discharge.     To  extricate  himself  from 
embarrassment,  he  made  large  claims  against  the  govern 
ment,  a  portion  of  which  was  rejected.     He  was  accused 
of  extortion  and  of  misuse  of  the  public  money ;  and  for 
these  offences  was  tried  by  a  court  martial  and  sentenced 
to  be  reprimanded  by  the  commander-in-chief. 

23.  From  this  moment,  he  determined  to  avenge  his 
wounded  pride  and  supply  his  wants,  by  betraying  his 
country.    In  a  letter  to  a  British  officer,  he  signified  his 
change  of  principle,and  his  wish  to  restore  himself  to  the 
favor  of  his  prince,  by  some  signal  proof  of  his  repentance. 
And  about  this  time,  for  a  purpose  which  afterwards  too 
plainly  appeared,  he  solicited  and  obtained  the  command 
of  West-Point,  the  most  important  post  in  the  possession 
of  the  American  Armies. 

24.  He  immediately  opened  a  correspondence  with  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  and  proposed  to  deliver  into  his  power 
the  post  that  he  commanded.     To  agree  upon  the  mode 
of  surrender,  major  Andre,  a  young  man  of  splendid  talents 
and  adjutant-general  of  the  British  army,  ascended  the 
river  from  New-York,  and,  in  the  night,  at  a  place  near 
the  American  lines,  had  an  interview  with  Arnold,    Be 
fore  he  was  prepared  to  return,  the  sloop  of  war  which 
brought  him  was  compelled  to  move  down  the  river. 

25.  In  this  emergency,  Andre,  disguised  as  a  traveller, 
assuming  the  name  of  Anderson  and  furnished  by  Arnold 


[1780, 

with  -a  pass,  set  out  'to  return  by  land  to  '  New-Ycttfc; 
He  passed  ull  the  guards  mid  posts  without  awakening 
suspicion  ;  bul-<Was>  stopped,  when  miar  the  end  -of  his' 
journey,  by  three  of  the-  New^Yotk  militia,  whose  names 
were  Paulding,  Williams,-  ami'  Vanwart.  Supposing  thetf  i 
to  be  soldiers  bf  his  dv^n-  army,  instead  -of  -producing  his 
pass;  he  declared  himfeelf  a  British  officer  and  desired  he 
might  not  be  detained  .  ;  ;  : 

26.  On  discovering;  his  mistake,  he'  ofFered  >theni  -a" 
pifrse'  of  gold  and  "a  valuitJjte  \yateh,  and  -promiskl  more 
airiple  rewUrds  fitrni  Ms  "governinertt^  if  they  would  ptr- 
^riit  him'  to  e^'aj>e.;  "  Kejeetin^  with  patriotism  worth  y- 
ML  all  praise*,  theie  tefttplkg  ''offers,  they  conducted  him 
t^p  colohel  Jameson,  \Vhti  was  Stationed  n«ar  the  ';  America  h 
lines.     In  his-  boot  s  were  found  a  particular-stateinent  <>!' 
tlie  strength  of  the  garrisbri,'  and  a  descn^tiori  <>f  tho 
works  at  West-P6int.     A  nxioas  for  the  safety  of  Arnold, 
he  desired  thief  colonel  to  inforna  lum  that  Anderson  was 
taken.     An  express  \vas  urtwadly  despatched  with  the- 
vntelligence/'  Arnold,  ooni|iroheiiding  his  danger-,  made  a 
precipitate  Hight  to  New-York.  :      .    :     • 

27.  Andre,  disdaining  logger  concealment,  then  avowed 
himself  to  be  -the  adjatknf  -general  -of  the  J3ritMi  army, 
SuS])icion  l>ein'g  now  excited,  colonel  .Tanfeson  tmnfernittf?rt: 
to  the  comrnander-ih-chip-f,  who;wasY  riot  tar-diBla-rit.'inior- 
^nation  of  all  the  events  Avhichiiad<K?curF'ed»  'Washington, 
hastening  to-  West-  Point,  madeartangeiwnrts  fo'r  repelling1 
Jin^r  attack  tliat:  might  be  -mo.de^    Pleasures  of  precaution 
being  taken,  tlte'  fate  -oT  th<*  -prisoner  ;was  next  to  IKJ 
decided. 

28.  -His  case  was  referred  to  a  board  df  officer^.'    Ap 
pearing  before  them,  he  confessed,  with  ingenuous  frank 
ness,-  every  circumstance  relating  to  MmseltV  but'  Wuld 
disclose  nothing  which  might  involve:'bthers:m  fii^mis- 
fortu^e.  '   He  ^isplayed,-m  -alj  his  Conduct  \vhile;  a  pi^isoner, 
great  -  nobleness  of''«iincr;  but  the  board,  constrained  by 
duty.'  reported  that  "he  must  be  eonsidered  as  a  spy,  and 
agreeably  -ttf^he  ?aW  Of  nations,-  Oughi  t^^uffer^deaih.     ' 

291  ^iril-ehrylQMton^  by;i'hom  Ke  was  highly  esteemetly 
mnde^Vifify^^rtibi-firi^hri^^o^r^  to-av£rrhis  fat^V  "He 
'rfe4on^tfrated/2tnd  threatened.   To  have  yielded, 


future  treason.-  ^An&re^un^red'anifrn^minM&dekth,^ 
e^  Of  ^  eotepo^lire-and  f^titAide  '\vhic1i  -provekl  -ho\v 
S'  he  ^rh|*hV"|wfe  '-beW,"lfed  lie"  h6t 


1777.] 

/  < 

stooped,  in  an  evil  hour,,  to  the  commission  of  an  igno 
minious  action. 

80.  Arnold  received,  as  the  reward  of  his  treachery, 
the  sum  of  10,000  pounds,  and  the  rank  of  brigacjier-gene- 
ral  in  the  British  army.  But  he  was  detested  by  his  new 
associates,  and  his  name  will  be  for  ever  synonymous 
with  infamy  and  baseness.  In  contrast  with  his,  how 
bright  shines  the  fame  of  the  three  captors  of  Andre. 
They  were  not  then,  nor  can  they  ever  be,  forgotten  by  a 
country  which  owes  so  much  to  their  fidelity.  Each 
received  the  thanks  of  congress,  a  silver  medal,  and  a 
pension  for  life,  which  has  been  doubled  at  a  subsequent 
season  of  greater  national  prosperity. 

31.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1780,  the  troops  of  the 
northern  army  retired  to  the  winter  quarters  which  they 
had  last  occupied.     Again  they  endured  distress  at  which 
patriotism  feels  indignant  and  humanity  weeps.      The 
harvest  had  been  abundant.     Plenty  reigned  in  the  land, 
but  want  in  the  camp  of  its  defenders.     Selfishness  had 
succeeded  patriotism,  lassitude  enthusiasm,  in  the  breasts 
of  the  people,  and  congress  exerted  its  powers  with  too 
little  vigor  to  draw  forth  the  resources  of  the  country. 

32.  The  soldiers  of  the  Pennsylvania  line  were  station 
ed  at  Morristown,  in  New   Jersey.     They  complained 
that,  in  addition  to  sustaining   sufferings  common  to  all, 
they  were  retained  in  service  contrary  to  the  terms  of 
their  enlistments.     In  the  night  of  the  first  of  January, 
thirteen  hundred,  on  a  concerted  signal,  paraded  under 
arras,  and  declared  their  intention   of  inarching  to  Phila 
delphia,  and  demanding  of  congress   a  redress  of  their 
grievances. 

33.  The  officers  strove  to  compel  them  to  relinquish 
their  purpose.     In  the  attempt,  one  was  killed  and  several 
were  wounded.     General  Wayne  presented  his   pistols 
as  if  intending  to  fire.     They  held  their  bayonets  to  his 
breast ;  "  We  love  and  respect  you,"  said  they,  "  but  if 
you  fire  you  are  a  dead  man.    We  are  not   going  to  the 
enemy.     On  the  contrary,  if  they  were  now  to  come  out, 
you  should  see  us  fight  under  your  orders  with   as  much 
tdacrity  as  ever.    But  we  will  be  amused  no  longer  ;  we 
are  determined  to  obtain  what  is  our  just  due." 

34.  They  elected  temporary  officers,  and  moved  off  in 
a  body  towards  Princeton.     General  Wayne,  to  prevent 
t  hem  from  plundering  the  inhabitants,  forwarded  provisions 
for  their  list?.    The  next  day  he  followed,  and  requested 

s 


306  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.        [i:bi, 

them  to  appoint  a  man  from  each  regiment,  to  state  to  him 
their  complaints.  The  men  were  appointed,  a  conference 
held,  but  he  refused  to  comply  with  their  demands. 

35.  They  proceeded  in  good  order  to  Princeton.    Three 
emissaries  from  sir  Henry  Clinton  meeting  them  here, 
made  them  liberal  offers  to  entice  them  from  the  service  of 
congress.     The  offers  were  instantly  rejected,  and  the 
emissaries  seized  and  confined  in  strict  custody.     Here 
they  were  also  met  by  a  committee   of  congress,  and  a 
deputation  from  the   state  of  Pennsylvania.     The  latter, 
granting  a  part  of  their  demands,  persuaded  them  to  return 
to  their  duty.     The  agents  of  Clinton  were  then  given  up, 
and  immediately  executed  as  spies. 

36.  This  mutiny,  and  another  in  the  Jersey  line,  which 
was  instantly  suppressed,  aroused  the   attention  of  the 
states  to  the  miserable  condition  of  their  troops.     The 
amount  of  three  months  pay  was  raised  and  forwarded 
to  them  in  specie.     They  received  it  with  joy,. as  it  af 
forded  evidence  that  their  country  was  not  unmindful  ot* 
their  sufferings. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

CAMPAIGN  OF  1781,  AND  TERMINATION 
OF  THE  WAR. 

IN  the  spring  of  1781,  the  project  of  besieging  New- 
York  was  again  resumed.  Requisitions  for  men  and 
stores  wrere  made  upon  the  northern  states,  and,  in  June, 
the  French  and  American  troops,  marching  from  their 
respective  positions,  encamped  together  on  ground  contig 
uous  to  the  city.  But  reinforcements  and  supplies  arrived 
slowly,  and  the  want  of  them  compelled  the  troops  in  the 
field  to  remain  inactive. 

2.  -In  the  southern  department,  far  different  was  the 
fortune  of  the  opposing  armies.     That  of  which  general 
Greene  took  the  command,  consisted  of  but  2000  men. 
Nearly  one  half  of  these  he  despatched,  under  general 
Morgan,  into  the  western  section  of  South-Carolina,  where 
a  British  party,  aided  by  the  tories,  were  plundering  and 
murdering  the  whigs  without  mercy  and  without  restraint. 

3.  Against  the  American  detachment,  Cornwallis  des 
patched  Tarleton.  with  a  force  considerably  superior,  and 


•I781.J  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  QQT 

a  large  proportion  of  it  cavalry.  Morgan  began  to  retreat, 
hut  disdaining  to  fly  from  an  enemy,  and  uncertain  whether 
he  could  escape  an  officer  so  distinguished  as  his  pursuer 
for  the  celerity  of  his  movements,  he,  on  the  17th  o? 
January,  halted  at  the  Cowpens,  and  determined  to  hazard 
a  battle,  before  his  troops  became  dispirited  and  fatigued. 

4.  Soon  after  he  had  placed  his  men,  the  British  van 
appeared  in  sight.     Confident  of  an  easy  victory,Tarleton 
rushed  to  the   charge  with  his  usual  impetuosity.     The 
militia  posted  in  front  yielded,  as  directed   by  Morgan,  to 
the  shock ;  and  the  infantry  composing  the   second  line, 
retreated  a  few  yards.     In  the  ardor  of  pursuit,  the  enemy 
were  thrown  into  disorder:  the   infantry,  facing  about, 
poured  upon  them  a  fire  as  deadly  as  it  was  unexpected. 
Their  disorder  was  increased,  and  a  charge  with  the  bay 
onet  completed  their  overthrow.     One  hundred  of  the 
enemy  were  killed,  and  five  hundred  made  prisoners. 

5.  Seldom  has  a  victory,  achieved  by  so  small  a  number, 
been  so  important  in  its  consequences.     It  deprived  Corn- 
wallis  of  one  fifth  of  his  force,  arid  disconcerted  his  plans 
for  the  reduction  of  North-Carolina.    He  sought,  however, 
to  repair,  by  active  exertions,  the  loss  which  he  had  suf 
fered.     Having  learnt  that  Morgan,  the  instant  after  his 
victory,  had  marched  with  his  prisoners  towards  Virginia, 
lie  determined,  if  possible,  to  intercept  him,  and  compel 
him  to  restore  his  trophies. 

6.  Now  commenced  a  military  race  which  has  hardly 
its  parallel  in  history.     Each  army  strove  to  arrive  first 
at  the  fords  of  the  Catawba,  from  which  both  were  equally 
distant.     The  American  troops  endured  almost  incredible 
hardships.      They  were  sometimes  without  meat,  often 
without  flour,  and  always  without  spiritous  liquors.    Many, 
marching  over  frozen  ground  without  shoes,  marked  with 
blood  every  step  of  their  progress. 

7.  On  the  twelfth  day  after  the  battle,  Morgan  reached 
the  fords  and  crossed  the  Catawba.     Two  hours  after 
wards,  Cornwallis  arrived,  and,  it  being  then  dark,  en 
camped  on  the  bank.     In  the  night,  a  heavy  fall  of  rain 
made  the  river  impassable.     This  gave  Morgan  an  oppor 
tunity  to  remove  the  prisoners  beyond  the  reach  of  his 
pursuer.     And  here  he  yas  joined  by  general  Greene,  who, 
leaving  the  main  body  of  his  army,  writh  orders  to  march 
towards  Virginia,  had  ridden,  with  but  two  or  three  atten 
dants,  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  for  that  purpose. 

'<  At  thA  end  of  throe  flays,  Gqnrwallis  found  means  to 


SOS  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [177?. 

pass  the  river.  The  retreat  and  pursuit  again  commenced. 
On  the  second  night,  the  Americans  reached  a  ford  on  the 
Yadkin.  Before  all  had  crossed,  the  British  appeared, 
and  a  part  of  the  baggage  was  left  in  their  power*  Again 
the  two  armies  lay  encamped  on  the  opposite  banks,  and 
before  morning,  this  river  also  was  made  impassable  by 
the  rain.  This  second  preservation  from  imminent  danger, 
persuaded  the  Americans  that  their  cause  was  favored  of 
heaven. 

9.  The  next  day,  Greene  proceeded  to  Guilford  court 
house,  where  he  was  joined  by  the  other  division  of  his 
army.     Cornwallis,  marching  up  the  Yadkin,  crossed  at 
the  shallow  fords  near  its  source.    Both  armies  now  started 
for  the  river  Dan,  on  the  borders  of  Virginia,  and  distant 
more  than  one  hundred  miles.     The  knowledge  that  there 
the  course  must  terminate,  gave  fresh  vigor  to  the  troops, 
and  a  new  impulse  to  their  speed.     On  the  fifth  day,  the 
American  army,  having,  in  the  last  twenty-four  hours, 
marched  forty  miles,  crossed  the  river  in  boats  which  had 
been  collected  for  the  purpose,  and  scarcely  were  they  over, 
"when  the  British  appeared  on  the  opposite  shore. 

10.  Chagrined  that  his  adversary  had  thus  eluded  his 
grasp,  Cornwallis  wheeled  about  and  marched  sullenly  to 
Hillsborough.     Here  many  loyalists  resorted  to  his  stand 
ard.     Six  hundred  Virginia  militia  having,  in  the  mean 
time,  joined  the  American  army,  Greene  determined  to 
xecross  the  Dan,  and,  by  his  presence  in  North-Carolina, 
support  the  courage  of  those  who  had  embraced  the  cause 
of  independence. 

1 1 .  Cornwallis  having  detached  Tarleton,  with  his  legion, 
1  o  the  country  on  the  branches  of  the  Haw  river,  in  order 
to  countenance  the  rising  of  the  loyalists  in  that  neigh 
borhood,  a  body  of  cavalry,  under  lieutenant-colonel  LHP, 
and  of  militia  under  general  Pickens,  were  directed  to 
march  thither  and  attack  him.     Lee,  who  led  the  van, 
overtook,  in  a  long  lane,  a  band  of  tories,  on  their  way  to 
the  enemy.     Mistaking  him  for  Tarleton,  they  expressed 
a  lively  joy  at  the  meeting,  and  declared  their  zealous 
attachment  to  the  royal  cause. 

12.  Hoping  to  surprise  Tarleton,  who  was  but  a  mile  in 
advance,  Lee  forbore  to  correct  their  error ;  but  while  ho 
was  endeavoring  to  pass  them,  the  militia  came  up  and 
engaged  their  rear.      Relinquishing  his  first  project,  he 
ordered  his  cavalry  to  fall  upon  the  tories,  who 
slaughtered  without  mercy,  while  proteptinji  they 


"1781.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  800 

"  the  very  best  friends  of  the  king."  Between  two  and 
three  hundred  were  killed.  Tarleton,  alarmed  by  the 
firing,  retreated  instantly  to  Hillsborough.  On  his  way, 
he  cut  down  a  small  party  of  royalists,  mistaking  them  for 
\vhig  militia. 

13.  Leaving  Hillsborough,  Cornwallis  next  encamped 
near  Guilford  court-house.      Greene,  having  been  still 
further  strengthened  by  several  bodies  of  militia,  pursued 
and  offered  him  battle.     On  the  15th  of  March,  an  en 
gagement  was  fought.    At  the  first  fire,  the  North-Carolina 
militia,  who  were  in  the  front  line,  fled.     The  second  line 
was  also  routed.     The  continentals,  who  composed  the 
third,  fought  with  their  usual  bravery,  and  for  an  hour  and 
a  half  maintained  the  conflict  with  great  firmness.     They 
at  length  gave  way,  but   retreated   in  good  order,  the 
slaughter  they  had  made  in  the  enemy's  ranks  preventing 
pursuit.     Both  sides  sustained  nearly  an  equal  loss. 

14.  This  victory,  won  by  a  far  inferior  force,  was  more 
glorious  than  advantageous  to  the  British  army.    Greene, 
expecting  and  desiring  to  be  attacked  at  his  place  of  retreat, 
made  preparations  for  a  second  engagement.     Cornwallis, 
far  from  courting  a  battle,  deemed  it  prudent  to  retire  to 
Wilmington,  near  the  sea.     He  was  pursued  for  a  few 
days,  but   so  excessive  had   been  the  sufferings  of  -the 
Americans,  from  hunger  and  fatigue,  that  many  fainted  on 
the  march,  and  at  Ramsay's  mills  the  army  halted  to  seek 
refreshment  and  repose. 

15.  After  remaining  three  weeks  at  Wilmington,  Corn 
wallis   proceeded   to   Petersburgh,  in   Virginia.      From 
Ramsay's  mills,  Greene  marched  towards  Camden,  where 
were  posted  nine  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of 
lord  Rawdon.     He  took  a  position  on  Hobkirk's  hill, 
about  a  mile  from  the  British  entrenchments.     At  this 
position,  the  Americans  were   attacked  on  the  25th  of 
A  pril.     In  the  beginning  of  the  action,  their  bravery  gained 
advantages  which,  in  its  progress,  were  lost  by  the  pre 
mature  retreat  of  two  companies,  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  all  their  officers.     At  this  reverse  of  fortune,  Greene 
retired  a  few  miles  from  the  field,  both  armies  having 
sustained  nearly  an  equal  loss. 

16.  In  April  and  May,  several  British  posts  in  South- 
Carolina,  fell  into  the  power  of  the  brave  and  active 
partizans,  who,  with  small  bodies  of  troops,  were  ever 
present,  where  oppression  was  to  be  resisted,  or  glory  won. 
Marion  and  Lee  invested  and  took  fort  Watson.    Orange- 


210  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  11781. 

burg  and  fort  Motte  surrendered  to  Sumpter.  Lee  cap- 
tured  fort  Granby,  and  Marion  drove  from  Georgetown 
the  troops  stationed  to  defend  it.  None  of  these  posts 
had  numerous  garrisons,  the  prisoners  being  less,  in  the 
whole,  than  eight  hundred ;  but  the  advantages  th^y  had 
secured  to  the  enemy  rendered  their  capture  important  to 
the  American  cause. 

>  17.  About  the  last  of  May,  lord  Rawdon  retired  to 
Monk's  corner,  near  Charleston,  leaving  garrisons  only  at 
Ninety-Six  and  Augusta.  The  latter  post  was  besieged 
by  Lee,  and  soon  capitulated.  Ninety-Six,  which  was 
much  stronger,  was  invested  by  the  main  army.  Tim 
siege  had  continued  three  weeks,  and  eventual  success 
appeared  certain,  when  intelligence  arrived  that  lord  Raw- 
«k»n,  having  received  a  reinforcement  from  Ireland,  \v;is 
approaching,  with  two  thousand  men,  to  the  relief  of  tho 
place.  All  hope  was  now*  lost  of  reducing  it  by  the  slow 
operation  of  a  siege.  On  the  18th  of  June,  the  Americans, 
with  great  gallantry,  made  an  assault  upon  the  works. 
They  were  received  with  no  less  gallantry  by  the  garrison, 
:ind  repulsed.  Greene  then  retired  towards  North-Caro 
lina,  and  three  days  afterwards  lord  Rawdon  arrived  nt 
Ninety-Six. 

18.  During  this  year,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Carolines 
endured  calamity  and  distress,  from  which  humanity  revolts 
with  horror.  The  country  was  ravaged  and  plundered  by 
both  armies.  The  people,  in  sentiment,  were  about  equally 
divided.  Village  was  hostile  to  village,  and  neighbor  to 
neighbor ;  and  their  hostility  had  been  embittered  by  accu 
sation  and  retort,  by  attack  and  reprisal,  until  pillage, 
burning,  and  murder,  became  familiar  to  all.  Whenever 
n  republican  or  roynlist  fell  into  the  power  of  an  adversary, 
he  was  instantly  sacrificed  in  revenge  of  a  friend,  or  to 
gratify  political  hatred.  It  is  asserted  that,  in  this  man 
ner,  thousands  were  put  to  death;  Each  party  aimed  at 
the  extirpation  of  the  other,  and  the  whole  country  pre 
sented  an  unvaried  scene  of  blood  and  slaughter.  JBut 
censure  ought  not  to  rest  equally  upon  the  two  parties. 
In  the  commencement  of  the  contest,  the  British,  to  terrify 
the  people  into  submission,  set  an  example  which  the  tories 
were  quick,  but  the  whigs  slow,  to  follow ;  and  in  its  pro 
gress  the  American  generals,  and  they  alone,  seized  every 
occasion  to  discountenance  such  vindictive  and  barbarous 
conduct. 

J9.  Lord  Rnwdon  having  returned  to  England,  t-he  com- 


ITbl.j  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  211 

inand  of  the  British  troops,  in  South-Carolina,  devolved 
upon  lieutenant-colonel  Stewart.  In  the  beginning  of 
September,  he  took  post  at  Eutaw.  Greene  marched 
against  him  from  the  High  Hills  of  Santee.  Their  forces 
"were  equal,  amounting  on  each  side  to  two  thousand  mer, 
On  the  8th,  a  battle  was  fought,  more  bloody  perhaps  thjiu 
nny  whicli  had  occurred  during  the  \var.  The  attack  wa  - 
made  by  the  Americans ;  the  British,  resolute  and  brave, 
made  an  obstinate  resistance,  but  were  at  length  driven, 
in  disorder  from  the  field. 

20.  A  small  number,  on  their  retreat,  took  possession 
r.f  a  large  brick  house,  and  others  of  an  adjoining  picketed 
garden.     From  these  strong  positions,  a  deadly  fire  was 
poured  upon  the  Americans,  who  persisted,  for  a  long  time, 
in  a  rash  attempt  to  take  them  by  storm.     This  check 
enabled  the  British  commander  to  rally  his  broken  bat 
talions,  and  bring  thenf  again  into  action.     Greene,  des 
pairing  of  further  success,  withdrew  his  troops,  carrying 
with  him  his  wounded  and  prisoners. 

21.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was  uncommonly  great,  in. 
proportion  to  the  numbers  engaged.     On  the  American 
side,  the  number  of  killed  arid  woonded  amounted  to  five 
hundred  and  iifty ;  on  that  of  the   British,  as  stated  !>y 
themselves,  to  almost  seven  hundred.     This  san^u>;-iu«y 
battle  was  followed  by  the  retreat  of  the  British  army 
towards  Charleston.      The  Americans  pursued,  and  by 
establishing  a  chain  of  posts  at  a  short  distance  from  that 
city,  protected  the  state  from  their  incursions. 

%2.  Comwallis,wlio  left  North-Carolina  in  April, arrived 
at  Petersburg!!,  in  Virginia,  on  the  20th  of  May.  He  there 
formed  a  junction  with  a  British  detachment,  which,  com- 
i^andod  at  first  by  Arnold  and  afterwards  by  Phillips,  had 
previously  gained  possession  of  Richmond  and  Portsmouth. 
With  the  force  now  at  his  command,  he  flattered  himself 
that  he  should  be  able  to  add  this  state  also  to  the  list  of 
his  conquests. 

23.  The  American  troops,  stationed  in  Virginia  for  its 
defence,  were  indeed  entirely  insufficient  to  oppose  any 
effectual  resistance.  Under  their  gallant  leader,  th  i 
Marquis  de  la  Fayette,  they  accomplished  even  more  than 
was  expected  ;  but  were  unable  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
inarching  through  the  country,  and  destroying  much  public 
and  private  property. 

•24.  From  these  excursions,  Cornwallis  was  recalled  to- 
bvhrs  commander- in-chief,  who,  havhrg  inter* 


REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [1751. 

a  letter  from  Washington  to  Congress,  became  ac 
quainted  with  the  danger  which  threatened  New- York.  He 
was  directed  to  take  a  position  near  the  ocean,  where  his 
army  and  the  fleet  might  afford  mutual  protection,  until  the 
event  of  the  operations  of  the  north  should  he  known.  He 
selected  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  point,  situated  on  oppo 
site  sides  of  York-river,  which  empties  into  Chesapeake 
bay.  He  had  an  army  of  more  than  10,000  men,  and  ap 
plied  all  his  means,  with  unwearied  industry  and  zeal,  to 
fortify  these  commanding  positions. 

25.  In  the  mean  time,  but  little  progress  had  been  made 
in  the  preparations  to  besiege  New- York.     Of  the  6000 
men,  whom  the  northern  states  were  required  to  furnish 
for  that  purpose,  a  few  hundred  only,  at  the  beginning  of 
Angus     had  joined  the  army.     On   the  other  hand,  the 

;:y  had  been  strengthened  by  the  arrival  of 

is.     In  this  posture  of  affairs,  the  idea  of  an 

,  .-•_•  ;;TIS:  Cornwallis  occurred  to  the  cornmander- 

YV1  I'H  -m  liberating  on  the  enterprise,  he  received 

brmation  :  hat  a  French  fleet,  under  the  count  de  Grasse, 

..  ith  .°{>00  troops  on  board,  was  on  the  way  to  America, 

and  destined  to  the  Chesapeake. 

26.  He  hesitated  no  longer,  but  determined  to  conduct 
the  expedition  in  person.     The  show  of  an  intention  to 
attack   New- York,  was  nevertheless  preserved.     After 
the  troops  left  their  respective  positions,  and  crossed  the 
Hudson,  their  march  was  so  directed  as  to  lead  Sir  Henry 
Clinton  to  believe  that  it  was  the  object  of  Washington 
to  gain  possession  of  Staten  Island,  in  order  to  facilitate 
his  designs  against  the  city.     The  despatches  he  had  in 
tercepted  assisted  to  deceive  him,  and  not  until  the  army 
had  crossed  the  Delaware,  and  was  thus  beyond  the  reach 
of  pursuit,  did  he  suspect  the  real  object  of  his  adversary. 

27.  He  then  determined  to  profit  by  his  absence,  or 
recall  him,  by  some  daring  enterprise  at  the  north.  Giving 
to  the  traitor  Arnold,  who  had  just  returned  from  Virginia, 
the  command  of  a  strong  detachment,  he  sent  him  against 
New-London,  a  flonrishing  city  situated  upon  the  river 
Thames,  in  his  native  state.     Nearly  opposite,  on  a  hill 
in  Groton,  stood  fort  Griswold,  which  was  then  garrisoned 
by  militia,  hastily  summoned  from   their   labors  in  the 
-field. 

28.  Against  this  fort  Arnold  despatched  a  part  of  his 
troops.     It  was  assaulted  on  three  sides  at  the  same  mo- 

The  garrison,  fighting  in  view  of  their  property 


1781.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.         .        £f3 

imd  their  homes,  made  a  brave  and  obstinate  resistance. 
By  their  steady  and  well  directed  fire,  many  of  the  assail 
ants  were  killed.  Pressing  forward  with  persevering 
ardor,  the  enemy  entered  the  fort  through  the  embrazures. 
Immediately  all  resistance  ceased.  Irritated  by  gallantry 
which  should  have  caused  admiratioh,  a  British  officer 
inquired  who  commanded  the  fort.  "  I  did,"  said  colonel 
Ledyara,  "  but  you  do  now,"  and  presented  him  his  sword. 
He  seized  it,  and  with  savage  cruelty  plunged  it  into  his 
bosom.  Ttiis  was  the  signal  for  an  indiscriminate  mas 
sacre.  Of  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  composing  the 
garrison,  all  but  forty  were  killed  or  wounded,  and  most 
of  them  after  resistance  had  ceased.  Seldom  has  the 
glory  of  victory  been  tarnished  by  such  detestable  bar 
barity.  The  enemy  then  entered  New-London,  which 
was  set  on  fire  and  consumed.  The  property  destroyed 
was  of  immense  value.  Perceiving  no  other  object  within 
the  reach  of  his  force,  Arnold  led  back  his  troops  to  New- 
York. 

29.  The  march  of  Washington  was  not  arrested  by  this 
barbarous  inroad.     He  pressed  forward  with  the  utmost 
speed,  the  great  object  in  view  imparting  vigor  to  his  troops. 
At  Chester,  he  received  the  cheering   intelligence,  that 
admiral  de  Grasse  had  entered  the  Chesapeake  with  a  force 
sufficiently  strong  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  enemy  by 
water.     On  the  25th  of  September,  the  last  division  ol' 
the  allied  forces  arrived  at  the  place  appointed  for  their 
meeting.     The  whole  consisted  of  16,000  men,  and  was 
furnished  with  a  large  and  powerful   train  of  battering 
artillery. 

30.  A  body  of  troops  under  general  de  Choise  was  sta 
tioned  to  watch  the  small  garrison  at  Gloucester  Point, 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  river ;  and  on  the  28th-the  several 
divisions,  destined  to  besiege  the  main  garrison  at  York- 
town,  reached  the  positions  assigned  them.     On  the  night 
of  the  6th  of  October,  advancing  to  within  600  yards  of. 
the   enemy's  lines,  they  begun  their  first   parallel,  and 
labored  with  such  silence  and  diligence,  that  they  were 
not  discovered  until  morning,  when  the  works  they  had 
raised  were  sufficient  to  protect  them. 

31.  On  the  Oth,  several  batteries  being  completed,  a 
heavy  cannonade  was  begun.     Many  of  the  enemy's  guns 
were  dismounted,  and  portions  of  their  fortifications  laid 
level  with  the  ground.     On  the  night  of  the  llth,  tln-> 
besiegers  commenced  their  second  parallel,  three  hundred 


OH  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [17 


yards  in  advance  of  the  first.  This  approach  was 
so  much  sooner  than  was  expected,  that  the  men  were 
not  discovered  at  their  labor,  until  they  had  rendered  them 
selves  secure  from  all  molestation  in  front.  The  fire  from 
the  new  hatteries  was  still  more  furious  and  destructive. 

32.  From  two  British  redoubts,  in  advance  of  their  main 
works,  and  flanking  those  of  the  besiegers,  the  men  in  the 
trenches  were  so  severely  annoyed  that  Washington  re 
solved  to  storm  them.     The  enterprise  against  one  was 
committed  to  an  American,  that  against  the  other  to  a 
French  detachment.     Colonel  Hamilton,  who  led  the  van 
of  the  former,  made  such  an  impetuous  attack,  that  pos 
session  was  soon  obtained,  with  little  slaughter.     Retalia 
tion  for  the  carnage  at  fort  Griswold  might  have  been 
justified.      But  "  the  soldiers,"  said  colonel   Hamilton, 
"  incapable  of  imitating  examples  of  barbarity,  and  for 
getting  recent  provocation,  spared  every  man  that  ceased 
to  resist."     The   French  detachment  was  equally  brave 
and  successful,  but,  opposed  by  a  stronger  force,  sustained 
a  more  considerable  loss. 

33.  Cornwallis,  perceiving  no  hope  of  safety  but  in  flight, 
attempted,  on  the  evening  of  the  16th,  to  cross  over  to 
Gloucester,  intending  to  force  his  way  through  the  troops 
under  de  Choise,  and  proceed  by  rapid  marches  to  New- 
York.     Before  reaching  the  opposite  shore,  with  the  first 
division  of  his  army,  a  storm  dispersed  his  boats  and  com 
pelled  him  to  abandon  the  project. 

34.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  additional  batteries 
were  completed  by  the  besiegers.     The  cannonade  became 
too  powerful  to  be  resisted.     The  enemy's  works  were 
sinking  rapidly  under  it,  and  nearly  all  their  guns  were 
silenced.     Before  noon,  Cornwallis  beat  a  parley,  and  pro 
posed  that  commissioners  should  be  appointed  to  settle 
terms  of  surrender.     They  were  accordingly  appointed, 
and  on  the  19th  of  October,  the  terms  which  they  had 
agreed  upon  were  ratified  by  the  respective  commnnders. 

35.  The  naval  force  in  the  harbor  was  surrendered  to 
tie  Grasse,  the  garrison  to  the  American  general.     To  the 
garrison,  the  same  terms  were  granted  as  had  been  con 
ceded  to  the  troops  who  capitulated  at  Charleston  ;  and 
general   Lincoln,  who  was   present,  was  designated  by 
Washington  to  receive  the  sword  of  Cornwallis.     The 
number  of  prisoners  exceeded  seven  thousand,  of  whom 
nearly  three  thousand  were  not  fit  for  duty. 

36.  On  no  occasion  during  the  war,  did  the  American 


178l>.]  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  215 

people  manifest  greater  exultation  and  joy.  To  the  Giver 
of  all  good,  they  united  in  rendering,  with  grateful  hearts, 
thanksgiving  and  praise  for  the  decisive  victory  which  he 
had  enabled  them  to  gain.  From  the  nature  and  duration 
of  the  contest,  the  affections  of  many  had  been  so  con 
centrated  upon  their  country,  and  so  intense  was  their 
interest  in  its  fate,  that  the  news  of  this  brilliant  success 
produced  the  most  rapturous  emotions,  under  the  operation 
of  which  some  were  deprived  of  their  reason,  and  one 
aged  patriot  in  Philadelphia  expired. 

37.  The  loss  of  a  second  entire  army  extinguished  every 
hope,  which  the  people  of  Great  Britain  had  entertained, 
of  the  subjugation  of  their  colonies.    Their  burdens,  which, 
although    heavy,  they  had  borne  with   patience,  while 
animated  by  the  prospect  of  success,  now  pressed  with 
intolerable   weight.      They   demanded,  with   an  almost 
unanimous  voice,  that  an  end  should  speedily  be  put  to  a 
hopeless  and  ruinous  war.     But  the  speech  of  the  king  to 
parliament,  at  the  opening  of  the  winter  session,  discovered, 
that  his  feelings  and  determination  remained  unchanged. 
Bearing  no  portion  of  the  burdens  of  war,  he  felt,  with 
undiminished  force,  his  reluctance  to  part  with  the  au 
thority  which  he  had  once  exercised,  over  three  millions 
of  subjects. 

38.  But  the  house  of  commons,  speaking  the  sentiments 
of  the  people,  expressed,  in  energetic  language,  their  dis 
approbation  of  all  further  attempts  to  reduce  the  colonies 
to  obedience  by  force.     Lord  North,  contrary  to  the  wishes 
of  his  sovereign,  then  resigned  the  office  of  prime  minister. 
Another  cabinet  was  formed,  who  advised  the  king  to 
concede  independence  to  the  colonies.     Early  in  the  spring 
of  1782,  pacific  overtures  were  accordingly  made  to  the 
American  government,  and  both  nations  desisted  from 
hostile  measures. 

39.  Congress  had  previously  appointed  John  Adams,  of 
Massachusetts,  a  commissioner  to  treat  with  Great  Britain, 
whenever  her  government   should  express  a  desire  for 
peace.     He  was  one  of  the  earliest  opposers  of  parlia 
mentary  encroachment.     Actuated  by  hatred  of  tyranny 
as  well  as  love  of  country,  he  had,  before  resistance  was 
contemplated  by  others,  devoted  all  the  energies  of  his 
powerful  mind  to  the  work  of  enlightening  the  people,  and 
preparing  them  for  the  contest  which  he  foresaw  was 
approaching.     In  the  continental  congress  he  was  conspic 
uous  for  his  talents  and  zeal.      Appointed  minister  iw 


x'16  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  [17s;;. 

Holla,  w!, -he  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  loan  at  Amsterdam  f 
when  the  resources  of  his  country  were  almost  exhausted, 
and  in  concluding  with  that  republic  a  treaty  of  amity  and 
commerce. 

40.  As  colleagues  with  him,  congress  now  appointed 
Benjamin  Franklin,  John  Jay,  and  Henry  Laurens.     The 
first  was  minister  to  France.     He  was  beloved  by  his 
conntry  for  the  services  he  had  rendered  her ;  and  illus 
trious  throughout  the  world  for  his  inventive  genius  and 
practical  philosophy,   John  Jay  was  a  native  of  New- York ; 
was  distinguished  for  the  purity  of  his  moral  character, 
and  his  attachment  to  the  rights  of  mankind.     He  had 
long  been  a  member  of  congress,  and  was  then  the  repre 
sentative  of  the  United  States  at  the  Spanish  court. 
Henry  Laurens  was  a  citizen  of  South-Carolina,  had  been 
president  of  congress,  had  been  appointed   minister  to 
Holland,  but  when  crossing  the  ocean,  was  captured  by  a 
British  cruiser  and  confined,  on  a  charge  of  treason,  to  the 
tower  of  London.     In  the  endurance  of  sufferings  in  his 
country's  cause,  he  displayed  a  character  formed  after  the 
models  of  antiquity. 

41.  To  negotiate  with  these,  Mr.  Oswald  was  appointed 
on  the  part  of  Great  Britain.     The  conferences  were  held 
at  Paris,  where,  in  November,  1782,  preliminary  articles 
were  agreed  upon.     These  were  to  form  the  basis  of  a 
definitive  treaty,  the  conclusion  of  which  was  deferred 
until  peace  should  take  place  between  France,  the  ally  of 
the  United  States,  and  Great  Britain.     That  event  oc 
curred  on  the  third  day  of  December,  1783 ;  and,  on  the 
same  day,  a  definitive  treaty  between  the  parent  country 
and  her  late  colonies  was  also  signed. 

42.  The  provisions  of  the  treaty  attest  the  zeal  and 
ability  of  the  American  negotiators,  as  well  as  the  liberal 
feelings  which  actuated  the  new  British  ministry.     The 
independence  of  the  United  States  was  fully  acknowledged. 
The  right  of  fishing  on  the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  and 
certain  facilities  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  right,  were 
secured  to  them  for  ever ;  and  territory  was  ceded  to  them 
more  extensive  than  the  most  sanguine  had  dared  to  anti 
cipate  or  to  hope.     During  the  negotiation,  France,  to 
ensure  the  future  dependence  of  her  allies  upon  herself, 
endeavored,  by  secret  intrigues,  to  prevent  them  from 
obtaining  as  favorable  terms  as  even  their  late  enemies 
were  willing  to  grant-— a  striking  proof  of  the  sel.iishnes* 
<uf  nations. 


i7Sa.j  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.  217 

43.  While  the  negotiations  were  pending,  the  American 
troops  were  retained  in  service,  but  remained  unemployed 
at  their  various  stations.     They  saw  with  pleasure  the 
end  of  their  toils  approaching,  but  apprehended,  that  their 
country,  when  she  no  longer  needed  their  services,  would 
forget  with  what  zeal  arid  fidelity  they  had  been  rendered. 
The  officers,  especially,  cMmed  that,  after  having,  for 
want  of  pay,  expended  their  private  fortunes,  and  after 
having  exhausted   their  strength  in  the  performance  of 
arduous  and  protracted  services,  they  should  be  dismissed 
in  poverty,  without  any  secure  provision  for  their  future 
support. 

44.  In  the  course  of  the  war,  a  resolution  had  been 
adopted  ky  congress,  stipulating  that  the  officers^  after 
being  disbanded,  should  receive  half-pay  for  life.     This 
resolution  had  never  been  ratified  by  the  requisite  number  of 
states,  and  no  safe  reliance  could  therefore  be  placed  upon  it. 
In  December,  1782,  the  officers  forwarded  to' congress  a 
petition  praying  that  all  arrears  which  were  due  to  them 
might  be  discharged,  and  that,  instead  of  half-pay  for  life, 
a  sum  equal  to  five  years  full  pay  should  be  paid  or  secured 
to  them  when  disbanded. 

45.  The  delay  of  congress  to  comply  with  this  request, 
produced  an  alarming  agitation  in  that  portion  of  the  army 
stationed  at  Newburgh.     An  address  to  the  officers  was 
privately  circulated,  written  with  great  ability,  and  admira 
bly  well  fitted  to  work  upon  those  passions  which  recent 
sufferings  and  gloomy  forebodings  had  excited  in  every 
bosom.     The  writer  boldly  recommended  that,  as  all  the 
implications  to  the  sympathy  and  justice  of  congress  had 
Jailed  of  success,  an  appeal  should  be  ma  Jo 'to  their  fears. 

46.  Fortunately  the  comrriander-in-chief  was  in  camp. 
Though  conscious  that  the  officers  had  just  cause  of  com 
plaint,. he  was  aware  that  duty  to  his  country  and  even 
Iriendship  for  them,  required  that  lie  should  prevent  the 
adoption  of  rash  and  disorderly  expedients  to  obtain  re 
dress.     Calling  them  together,  he,  by  ?i  calm  ard  sensible 
address,  persuaded  them  to  rely  still  longer  upon  the  dis 
position  of  congress  to  perform  for  thorn  whatever  the 
limited  means  of  the  nation  would  permit. 

47.  In  a  letter  to  that  body,  giving  an  account  of  these 
occurrences,  he  maintained  and  enforced  the  claims  of  tho 
officers  with  such  pathos  and  streisj'rth  of  reasoning,  thai; 
their   request  was   granted.      In  November,   1783.  the 
PATRIOT  ARMY  was  disbanded,  and  again  mingled  vrifh 


CONFEDERATION.  [1T»«. 

fellow  citizens.  In  the  same  month,  New- York 
was  evacuated  by  the  British  troops.  General  Wash 
ington,  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of  his  officers,  repaired 
to  Annapolis,  where  congress  was  sitting,  and  'there,  at  a 
public  audience,  with  dignity  and  sensibility,  resigned  his 
commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  American 
nrmies.  Then,  with  a,  character  illustrious  throughout 
the  world,  he  returned  to  his  residence  at  Mount  Vernon-, 
possessing  the  sincere  love  and  profound  veneration  of  his 
countrymen. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

ti, 

ADOPTION  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION, 

AND 
I 

WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION, 

INDEPENDENCE  and  peace  did  not  immediately  produce 
all  the  advantages  which  had  been  anticipated  by  an  ardent 
and  sanguine  people.  The  evils  of  war  were  protracted 
beyond  its  duration.  Public  and  private  debts  bore  heavily 
upon  the  people,  restraining  their  enterprise  and  demanding 
all  their  resources. 

2.  Unsupported  by  the  sense  of  imminent  and  common 
danger,  the  articles  of  confederation  were  found  insufficient 
t  o  accomplish  the  purposes  of  a  national  government.  They 
conferred  upon  congress  the  power,  not  to  raise  money, 
but  merely  to  make  requisitions  upon  the  states.     These 
were  often  disregarded,  no  authority  being  given  to  en 
force  obedience.     The  revenue  was  therefore  deficient, 
the  public  creditors  were  unpaid,  and  the  national  securities 
or  evidences  of  debt  depreciated  so  low  that  they  were 
often  sold  for  one  eighth  of  their  nominal  value. 

3.  Neither  did  these  articles  confer  the  power  to  regulate 
commerce.'    Congress,  therefore,  could  not  make  commer 
cial  treaties  with  foreign  nations  which  would  be  obligatory 
upon  the  individual  states.     Unprotected  by  treaties,  and 
unsupported  by  countervailing  regulations,  the  American 
merchants  were  denied  all  participation,  except  on  terms 
at  once  burdensome  and  degrading,  in  the  commerce  of 
the  world.    The  trade  between  the  several  states,  which 


1786.J  CONFEDERATION,  LY1B 

were  considered  separate  and  independent  sovereignties, 
was  also  embarrassed  by  numerous  restrictions,  producing 
frequent  collisions,  and  diminishing  the  benefits  which 
naturally  How  from  the  unfettered  enterprise  and  industry 
of  man.  Commerce  languished ;  and  from  the  want  of 
its  vivifying  influence,  all  the  energies  of  the  country  were 
dormant. 

4.  To  remedy  these  evils,  congress  applied  to  the  states 
ibr  a  grant  of  the  power  to  regulate  commerce,  and  to 
collect  a  revenue  from  it.     New- York  alone  refused  ;  bur, 
as  unanimity  was  requisite,  her  single  negative  defeated 
the  project.     In  the  mean  time,  the  distress  increased, 
and  in  Massachusetts,  where  it  was  greatest,  urged  to 
insurrection  a  portion  of  the  inhabitants. .   Near  the  closr* 
of  the  year  1786,  they  assembled,  to  the  number  of  two 
thousand,  in  the  noithwestern  part  of  the  state,  and,  choos 
ing  Daniel  Shays  their  leader,  demanded  that -the  collec 
tion  of  debts  should  be  suspended,  and  that  the  legislature 
should  authorize  the  emission  of  paper  money  for  general 
circulation. 

5.  Two  bodies  of  militia,  drawn  from  those  parts  of  tlm 
state  where  disaffection  did  not  prevail,  were  immediately 
despatched. against  them,  one  under  the  command  of  gene 
ral  Lincoln,  the  otter  of  general  Shepard.     They  wero 
easily  dispersed ;  ana  afterwards  abandoning  their  seditious 
purposes,  accepted  the  proffered  indemnity  of  the  govern 
ment. 

<5.^  So  early  as  1783,  John  Adams,  being  then  minister 
in  Europe,  and  seeing  in  what  light  the  American  con- 
liberation  was  regarded  by  foreign  nations,  suggested  to 
congress  the  expediency  of  effecting  a  closer  union  of  tho 
states,  and  of  conferring  more  efficient  powers  upon  the 
general  government.  A  conviction  of  the  necessity  of 
such  a  course  was  also  felt  by  general  Washington,  and 
most  of  the  distinguished  patriots  of  that  period.  In  Sep 
tember,  1786,  upon  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Madison,  of 
Virginia,  a  convention  of  commissioners  from  five  of  the 
middle  states,  was  held  at  Annapolis,  for  the  purpose  of 
devising  and  recommending  to  the  states  a  uniform  system 
of  commercial  regulations. 

7.  These  commissioners,  after  deliberating  upon  the 

subject,  camo  to  tho  conclusion  that  nothing  short  of  a 

thorough   reform  of  the  existing  government  should  hu 

attempted.     This  opinion  was  expressed  in  the  report  of 

"  •  proceedings,  wlu>h  was  hid  before  congress.    That 


CONFEDERATION.  [17w7," 

body  adopted,  in  consequence,  a  resolution  recommending 
that  a  co/ivention  of  delegates  from  all  the  states  should 
he  held  at  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the 
articles  of  confederation,  and  re-porting  such  alterations  as 
would  render  the  Ifederal  constitution  adequate  to  the 
exigencies  of  government,  and  the  preservation  of  the  union. 

8.  With  tiiis  recommendation  all  the  states,  except 
Rhode  Island,  complied ;  and  in  May,  1787,  the  convention 
met.     Of  this  body  of  venerable  and  illustrious  statesmen, 
George  Washington  was  unanimously  elected  president. 
They  deliberated  with  closed  doors,  and  at  the  end  of 
four  months,  agreed  upon  a  constitution  for  the  United 
States  of  America,  which,  after  being  reported  to  congress, 
was  submitted  for  ratification  to  conventions  holden  in  the 
.respective  states. 

9.  This  constitution,  under  which  the  citizens  of  this 
republic   have  enjoyed  such  unexampled  happiness  and 
prosperity,  differs,  in  many  particulars,  from  the  articles 
of  confederation.     It  connects  the  states  more  closely 
together,  by  establishing  a  general  and  supreme  govern 
ment  composed  of  three  departments,  legislative,  executive, 
and  judicial. 

10.  The  legislative  department,  consists  of  a  senate  and 
house  of  representatives,  and  is  sty] ell  the  congress.     The 
members  of  the  ho-frse  are  chosen  by  the  people,  and  hold 
their  offices  two  years.     They  are  apportioned  among  the 
several  states,  according  to  the  number  of  inhabitants,  as 
ascertained  every  tenth  year  by  the  census,  deducting 
two  fifths  of  the  slaves. 

11.  The  senators  are  the  representatives  of  the  states, 
in  their  sovereign*  capacity,  and  are  chosen  by  the  state 
legislatures,  each  choosing  two.    Tbe  constitution  ordained 
that  on  assembling  at  the  first  session,  they  should  be 
divided,  as  equally  as  possible,  into  three  classes.     Those 
composing  the  first  class  wore  to  hold  their  offices  but  two 
years  ;  those  composing  the   second  class,  four  years ; 
those  composing  the  third,  six  years.     All  subsequently 
chosen  were  to  hold  their  offices  six  years,  except  snch  as 
should  be  chosen  to  supply  the  places  of  those  who  died  or 
resigned.     Besides  their  legislative  power,  they  have,  in 
concurrence  with  the  executive,  a  voice  in  all  appoint* 
merits  to  office,  and  in  the  ratification  of  treaties. 

12.  The  executive  power  is  vested  in  a  president  ap- 
pointed  by  electors.     These  electors  are  chosen   in  the 

•-ritive  stnto?.  in  such  manner  as  the  did  ere:  • 


1787.]  CONFEDERATION.  32* 

lines  may  prescribe,  and  are  equal  in  number  to  the  sena 
tors  and  representatives  from  the  state  in  congress.  If, 
Jiowever,  no  person  receives  a  majority  of  the  votes  of 
these  electors,  the  president  is  then  chosen  by  the  repre 
sentatives,  those  from  each  state  having  but  one  vote* 
He  is  elected  for  four  years ;  but  he  may  be  impeached  by 
the  house,  tried  by  the  senate,  and,  if  convicted  of  mis 
conduct,  may  be  removed  from  office.  He  is  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  land  and  naval  forces.  He  nominates  to 
the  senate  all  officers  of  the  general  government,  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  two-thirds  of  that  body,  ratifies 
treaties.  A  vice-president  is  chosen  at  the  same  time,, 
and  in  the  same  manner,  to  perform  all  the  duties  of 
president  when  that  office  is  vacant  by  death,  resignation, 
ur  removal. 

13.  To  pass  a  law  the  house  and  senate  must  concur, 
and  it  is  then  to  be  sent  to  the  president,  who  must  approve 
it.     If  he  does  not  approve  it,  he  must  return  it  with  his 
objections ;  and  it  must  then  be  agreed  to  by  two-thirds 
of  both  branches.     Laws  thus  enacted  are  obligatory  upon 
the  citizens  individually,  and  may  be  executed  by  officers 
appointed  by  the  president  and  senate,  .,JJnder  the  con 
federation,  the  ordinances  of  congress  operated  only  upon, 
the  states,  and  no  efficient  mode  was  provided  for  enforc 
ing  them. 

14.  The  constitution  confers  on  congress  the  power  to 
declare  war ;  to  raise  and  support  armies ;  to  provide  and 
maintain  a  navy ;  to  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts, 
and  excises ;  to  regulate  commerce ;  to  coin  money ;  and 
all  other  powers  of  a  general  or  national  character.     It, 
diminishes,  in  no  respect,  the  liberty  of  the  citizen,  but 
transfers  a  portion  of  the  powers,  previously  exercised  by 
the  state  governments,  to  the  government  of  the  union. 

1.5.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States  is  vested 
*  in  a  supreme  court,  and  such  inferior  courts  as  the  congress 
may  establish;  and  it  extends  to  all  cases  arising  undt-.r 
the  constitution,  the  laws  of  congress,  and  treaties ;  to  all 
cases  of  admiralty  and  maritime  jurisdiction ;  to  all  con 
troversies  between  citizens  of  different  states,  and  between 
foreigners  and  citizens :  the  judges  hold  their  offices  during 
good  behavior. 

16.  The  new  constitution  found  opposers  as  well  as 
advocates,  and  both  were  equally  zealous.  The  former, 
nrdently  attached  to  liberty,  imagined  that  rulers  posses- 
Kttrg  such  exterrsive,  sway,  such  abundant  patronage,  and 


222  WASHINGTON'S  [178& 

suck  independent  tenure  of  office,  would  become  fond  of 
the  exercise  of  power,  and  in  the  end,  arrogant  and  tyranni 
cal.  The  latter  professed  equal  attachment  to  liberty,  but 
contended  that,  to  preserve  it,  an  energetic  government 
was  necessary.  They  described,  with  powerful  effect,  the 
evils  actually  endured  from  the  inefficiency  of  the  con 
federation,  and  demanded  that  a  trial  at  least  should  be 
made  of  the  remedy  proposed.  These  took  the  name  of 
federalists,  as  friendly  to  a  union  of  the  states ;  the  appel 
lation  of  anti-federalists  was  given  to  their  antagonists. 

17.  In  the'  conventions  of  eleven  states,  a  majority, 
though  in  some  instances  a  small  one,  decided  in  favor  of 
its  ratification.     Provision  was  then  made  for  the  election 
of  the  officers  to  compose  the  executive  and  legislative 
departments.     To  the  highest  station,  the  electors,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  elected  George  Washington,  illustrious 
for  his  virtues  and  military  talents.     To  the  second,  that 
of  vice-president,  by  a  vote  nearly  unanimous,  they  ele 
vated  John  Adams,  who,  in  stations  less  conspicuous,  had, 
with  equal  patriotism,  rendered  important  services  to  his 
country. 

18.  The  foiafchof  March,  1789,  was  the  day  designated 
for  the  new  government  to  commence  its  operations.    The 
delays   incident  to  its   first  organisation,  prevented  the 
inauguration  of  the  president,  until  the  30th  of  April. 
The  ceremony  was  witnessed,  with  inexpressible  joy,  by 
an  immense  concourse  of  citizens.      In  an  impressive 
address  to  both  houses  of  congress,  he  declared,  with 
characteristic  modesty,  his  "  incapacity  for  the  mighty  and 
untried  cares  before  him,"  and  offered  his  "fervent  suppli 
cations  to  that  Almighty  Being,  whose  providential  aid 
can  supply  every  human  defect,  that  his  benediction  would 
consecrate  to  the  liberties  and  happiness  of  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  a  government  instituted  by  themselves 
for  'these  essential  purposes ;   and   would  enable  every 
instrument,  employed  in  it's  administration,  to  execute^ 
with  success,  the  functions  allotted  to  his  charge." 

19.  He  also  express^  his  firm  conviction,  "  that  the 
foundation  of  our  national  policy  would  be  laid  in  the  pure 
and  immutable  principles  of  private  morality;  and  that 
the  pre-eminence  of  a  free  government  would  be  exem 
plified  by  all  the  attributes  which  can  win  the  affections 
of  its  citizens,  and  command  the  respect  of  the  world.*' 

20.  "  I  dwell,"  said  he,  "  on  this  prospect  with  every 
•satisfaction  wh:ch  an  ardent  love  for  mv  country  can 


1790.]  ADMINISTRATION.  22% 

inspire  ;  since  there  is  no  truth  more  thoroughly  estab 
lished,  than  that  there  exists,  in  the  economy  and  course 
of  nature,  an  indissoluble  union  between  virtue  and  happi 
ness  ;  between  duty  and  advantage  ;  between  the  genuine 
maxims  of  an  honest  and  magnanimous  policy,  and  the 
solid  rewards  of  public  prosperity  and  felicity ;  and  since 
the  destiny  of  the  republican  model  of  government  is 
justly  considered  as  DEEPLY,  perhaps  as  FINALLY,  staked 
on  the  experiment  intrusted  to  the  American  people." 

21.  To  establish  a  revenue  sufficient  for  the  support  of 
government,  and  for  the  discharge  of  the  debt  contracted 
in  the  revolutionary  war*  was  the  first  object  of  congress* 
For  this  purpose,  duties  were  laid  on  the  importation  of 
merchandise,  and  on  the  tonnage  of  vessels;  and  from 
these   sources  were  drawn  into   the   national   treasury, 
funds  which  had  before  been  collected  and  appropriated 
by  the  states  on  the  sea  coast. 

22.  Laws,  creating  a  department  of  state,  of  the  trea 
sury,  and  of  war,  were  enacted;  and  Mr.  Jefferson,  Mr. 
Hamilton,  and  general   Knox,  appointed  secretaries   or 
principals.      A   national  judiciary  was   constituted  and 
organized.     A  resolve  was  passed,  directing  the  secretary 
of  the  treasury  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  support  of  public 
credit ;  and  amendments  to  the  constitution  were  pro 
posed,  which  were  subsequently  ratified  by  the  states ; 
and  which >  removing  many  of  the  objections  made  to  it, 
rendered  it  acceptable  to  all. 

23.  After  the  adjournment   of  congress,  the  president 
made  a  tour  through  New-England,  where  he  was  re 
ceived  by  the  inhabitants  with  an  affection  bordering  on 
adoration.     People  of  all  classes  crowded  to  behold  the 
man  whose  virtues  and  talents  exalted  him,  in  their  view, 
above  the  heroes  of  ancient  and  modern  times ;  and  to 
present  to  him  the  undissembled  homage  of  their  grateful 
hearts.     But  to  none  did  his  visit  give  more  exquisite 
pleasure  than  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  "  patriot 
army,"  who  had  been  his  companions  in  suffering  and 
in  victory,  who  were  endeared  to  him  by  their  bravery 
find  fidelity  in  war,  and  by  the  magnanimity  with  which, 
in  peace,  they  endured  unmerited  neglect  and  poverty. 

24.  At  the  next  session  of  congress,  which  commenced 
in  January,  1790,  Mr.  Hamilton,  the  secretary  of  the 
treasury,  made  his  celebrated  report  upon  the  public  debts 
contracted  during  the  revolutionary  war.     Taking  an  able 
»B.d  enlarged  view  of  the  advantages  of  public  credit,  ho 


^Ji  WASHINGTON'S  11790, 

recommended  that,  not  only  the  debts  of  the  continental 
congress,  but  those  of  the  states  arising  from  their  exer 
tions  in  the  common  cause,  should  be  funded  or  assumed 
by  the  general  government ;  and  that  provision  should  be 
made  for  paying  the  interest,  by  imposing  taxes  on  certain 
articles  of  luxury,  and  on  spirits  distilled  within  the 
country. 

25.  Upon  this  report  an  animated  debate  took  place. 
Its  recommendations  were  opposed  by  that  party  who  had 
seen,  or  thought  they  had  seen,  in  the  constitution,  many 
features  hostile  to  freedom,  and  who  remembered  that 
Mr.  Hamilton,  when  a  member  of  the  convention,  had 
proposed  that  the  president  and    senate  should    be   ap 
pointed  to  hold  their  offices  during  good  behavior.  They 
now  expressed  their  fears,  that  the  assumption  of  these 
•debts   would   render   the  government   still  stronger,  by 
drawing  around  it  a  numerous  and  powerful  body  of  pub- 
Jic  creditors,  who,  in  all  its  contests  writh  the  states  or  the 
people,  would  be  bound,  by  the  strongest  of  all  ties,  that 
of  interest,  to  support  it  whether  right  or  wrong.     This 
party,  existing  principally  in  the  southern  states,  and  pro 
fessing  an  ardent  attachment  to  the  equal  rights  of  man, 
took  the  name  of  republican. 

26.  Mr.  Madison  proposed,  that  whenever  the  public 
securities  had  been  transferred,  the  highest  price  which 
they  had  borne  in  the  market  should  be  paid  to  tbe  pur 
chaser,  and  the  residue  to  the  original  holder.     After  an. 
eloquent  debate,   this    proposition  was   rejected.      The 
party  denominated  federal,  and  existing  principally  in  the 
northern  states,  supported  throughout,  with  great  ability 
and  force  of  reasoning,  the  plans  of  the  secretary  ;  but  on 
taking  the  vote  in  the  house  of  representatives,  they  were 
rejected  by  a  majority  of  two. 

27.  Afterwards  this  national  measure  was  connected, 
as  is  too  frequently  the  case  in  legislative  bodies,  with 
one  which  had  excited  much  local  feeling.     It  was  under 
stood  that,  should  the  seat  of  government  be  fixed  for  ten 
years  at  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards  permanently  at  a 
place   to  be  selected  on  the   Potomac,   some   southern 
members  would  withdraw  their  opposition  to  the  funding 
system.     A  law  to  that  effect  was  accordingly  enacted. 
The  former  discussion  was  then  resumed.     The  plans  of 
the  secretary  were  adopted  in-  the  senate  and  afterwards 
in  the  house,  two  members  representing  districts  on  the 
Potomac,  changing  their  votes.  The  debt  funded  amount- 


179  l.J  ADMINISTRATION.  225 

ed  to  a  little  more  than  seventy-five  millions  of  dollars  ; 
upon  a  part  of  which  three  per  cent,  and  upon  the  remain 
der  six  per  cent  interest  was  to  be  paid. 

28.  The  effect  of  this  measure  was  great  and  rapid. 
The  price  of  the  public  paper,  which  had  fallen  to  twelve 
.or  fifteen  cents  on  the  dollar,  suddenly  rose  to  the  sum 
expressed  on  the  face  of  it.  This  difference  was  gained, 
in  most  instances,  by  purchasers  of  the  securities,  who, 
feeling  indebted,  for  this  immense  accession  of  wealth, 
to  the  plans  of  the  secretary,  regarded  him  with/enthusi 
astic  attachment.  But  in  others,  this  wealth,  suddenly 
acquired  without  merit,  excited  envy  and  dissatisfaction. 
These  joined  the  republican  party ;  who,  fancying  they 
were  witnessing  the  fulfilment  of  their  prediction,  be 
came  more  active  in  their  opposition. 

y(J.  The  recommendation  of  the  secretary  to  impose 
additional  duties,  was  not  acted  upon  until  the  next  session 
of  congress.  Those  on  distilled  spirits  were  proposed  in 
order  to  render  the  burdens  of  the  inhabitants  beyond  the 
Alleghany  mountains,  where  no  other  spirits  were  con 
sumed,  equal  to  those  of  the  inhabitants  on  the  sea  coast, 
•wli«  consumed  most  of  the  articles  on  which  an  import 
duty  was  paid.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1791,  they 
were  laid  as  proposed.  A  national  bank,  recommended 
also  by  the  same  officer,  was  in  the  same  year  incorpo 
rated.  Both  measures  met  a  violent  opposition  from  tho 
republican  party. 

30.  When  the  new  government  was  first  organized, 
but  eleven  states  had  ratified  the  constitution.  After 
wards,  North-Carolina  and  Rhode  Island,  the  two  dis 
senting  states,  adopted  it;  the  former  in  November,  1789, 
the  latter  in  May,  1790.  In  1791,  Vermont  adopted  it, 
and  applied  to  congress  to  be  admitted  into  the  union. 
The  territory  of  this  state,  situated  between  New-Hamp 
shire- and  New-York,  was  claimed  by  both,  and  both  had 
made  grants  of  land  within  its  limits.  In  1777,  tho 
inhabitants,  refusing  to  submit  to  either,  declared  them 
selves  independent.  Although  not*  represented  in  tho 
continental  congress,  yet,  during  the  war,  they  embraced 
the  cause  of  their  brethren  in  the  other  states,  and  to 
thern*4heir  aid  was  often  rendered,  arid  was  always 
efficient.  Airrerably  to  their  request,  an  act  was  r,o\v 
passed,  constituting  Vermont  one  of  the  members  of  th^ 
union.  An  act  was  also  passed,  declaring  that  the  district. 
•;f  Kentucky,  thon  a  part  oS'  VirLriui:».  should  bo  admj 


226  WASHINGTON'S  [179s?.' 

into  the  union  on  the  first  day  of  June,  in  the  succeeding 
year. 

31.  In  1791,  was  completed  the  first  census  or  enumer 
ation  of  the   inhabitants   of  the   United   States.     They 
amounted  to  3,921,326,  of  which  number  695,655  were 
slaves.     The  revenue,  according  to   the   report   of  the 
secretary  of  the  treasury,  amounted  to  4,771,000  dollars, 
the  exports  to  about  nineteen,  and  the  imports  to  about 
t  wenty  millions.     A  great  improvement  in  the  circumstan 
ces  of  the  people  began  at  this  period  to  be  visible.     The 
establishment  of  a  firm  and  regular  government,  and  con 
fidence  in  the  men  whom  they  had  chosen  to  administer 
it,  gave  an  impulse  to  their  exertions  which  bore  them 
rapidly  forward  in  the  career  of  prosperity. 

32.  In  1790,  a  termination  was  put  to  the  war  which, 
for  several  years,  had  raged  between  the  Creek  Indians 
and  the  state  of  Georgia.     Pacific  overtures  were  also 
made  to  the  hostile  tribes  inhabiting  the  banks  of  the 
Scioto  and  the  Wabash.     These  being  rejected,  an  army 
of  1400  men,  commanded  by  general  Harmer,  was  des 
patched  against  them.     Two  battles  were  fought  near 
Chilicothe,  in    Ohio,   between  successive    detachments 
from  this  army  and  the  Indians,  in  which  the  latter  were 
victorious. 

33.  Emboldened  by  these  successes,  they  made  more 
vigorous  attacks  upon  the   frontier   settlements,  which 
suffered  all  the  distressing  calamities  of  an  Indian  war. 
Additional  troops  were  raised,  and  the  command  of  the 
whole  was  given  to  general  St.  Clair.     With  near  2000 
men,  he  marched,  in  October,  into  the  wilderness.     By 
desertion  and  detachments,  this  force  was  reduced  to 
fourteen  hundred.     On  the  third  of  November,  they  en 
camped  a  few  miles  from  the  villages  on  the  Miami, 
intending  to  remain  there  until  joined  by  those  who  were 
absent. 

34.  But  before  sunrise,  the  next  morning,  just  after  the 
troops  were  dismissed  from  the  parade,  they  were  attacked 
unexpectedly  by  the  Indians.     The  new  levies,  who  were 
in  front,  rushed  back  in  confusion  upon  the   regulars. 
These,  who  had  been  hastily  formed,  were  thrown  into 
disorder.      They,  however,   with  great  intrepidity  ad 
vanced  into  the  midst   of  the  enemy,  who  retired  from 
covert  to  covert,  keeping  always  beyond  reach,  and  again 
returning  as  soon  as  the  troops  were  recalled  from  pursuit . 

•  crmrffps  rnnnv  brr.vo  rnd  experience . I    officer.- 


1793.]          ADMINISTRATION:  227 

were  killed ;  the  loss  of  men  was  also  great,  and  no  per 
manent  impression  was  made  upon  the  enemy. 

35.  At  length,  after  a  contest  of  three  or  four  hours,  St. 
Clair,  whose  ill  health  disabled  him  from  performing  the 
active  duties  of  commander,  determined  to  withdraw  from 
the  field  the  remnant  of  his  troops.  The  instant  that  the 
directions  to  retire  were  given,  a  disorderly  flight  com 
menced.  Fortunately  for  the  survivers,  the  victorious 
Indians  were  soon  recalled  from  pursuit  to  the  camp,  hy 
their  avidity  for  plunder ;  and  the  vanquished  continued 
their  retreat  unmolested  to  the  frontier  settlements. 

3.6.  In  this  battle,  the  numbers  engaged  on  each  side 
were  supposed  to  be  equal.  Of  the  whites,  the  slaughter 
was  almost  beyond  example.  Six  hundred  and  thirty  wero 
killed  and  missing,  and  two  hundred  and  sixty  were  wound 
ed — a  loss  which  proves  at  once  the  obstinacy  of  the 
defence,  and  the  bravery  of  the  assailants.  On  receiving 
information  of  this  disaster,  congress,  resolving  to  prose 
cute  the  war  with  increased  vigor,  made  provision  for 
augmenting,  by  enlistment,  the  military  force  of  the  nation 
to  5000  men. 

37.  In  the  autumn  of  1792,  general  Washington  was 
again  unanimously  elected  president  of  the   American 
republic,  and  in  March,  1793,  was  inducted  into  office. 
Mr.  Adams  was  re-elected  vice-president,  in  opposition 
to  George  Clinton,  of  New- York.     In  the  progress  of 
these  elections,  but  little  party  feeling  was  exhibited ;  the 
repose  of  society  was  not  disturbed,  but  the  citizens  raised 
to  posts  of  the  highest  honor  those  whom  their  judgments 
and  affections  designated  as  the  most  worthy. 

38.  While  the  Americans,  with  but  little  alloy,  were 
enjoying,  under  a  government  of  their  own  choice,  the 
blessings  of  independence  and  freedom,  the  people  of 
France,  by  whose  aid  these  blessings  had  been  acquired, 
were  experiencing  all  the  miseries  of  anarchy.    Greviously 
oppressed  by  institutions  originating  in  times  of  ignorance 
and  barbarism,  they  had  risen  in  the  majesty  of  physical 
strength,  and  declared  their  determination  to  be  free. 
Against  a  whole  people,  aroused  by  their  sufferings  to 
demand  their  rights,  what  effectual  -resistance  can   be 
opposed  ?    Before  their  energetic  exertions,  prompted  by 
enthusiasm  and  directed  by  fatal  skill,  their  ancient  govern 
ment  crumbled  to  the  dust. 

39.  Passing  at  once  from  abject  slavery  to  entire  liberty, 
'heir  conduct  was  marked  by  the  most  shocking  excesses. 


£28  W  ASH1 N  GTU.N  'S  [  1 7  y  3 . 

The  mild  virtues  of  their  king,  alleviating  but  slightly  the 
pvils  of  despotism,  could  not  save  him  from  that  resent 
ment  which  consigned  to  indiscriminate  destruction  the 
hereditary  orders.  Himself,  his  queen,  and  many  thou 
sands  of  the  nobility  and  clergy,  suffered  death  on  ttio 
scaffold.  A  new  government  was  instituted,  having,  for 
its  fundamental  principle,  the  universal  equality  of  man. 
Its  form  was  often  changed,  and  the  reins  of  authority 
were  successively  but  unsteadily,  held  by  the  temporary 
favorites  of  an  unenlightened  and  capricious  people. 

40.  The  Americans  could  not  regard  with  indifference 
this  struggle  of  their  allies  for  freedom.     They  considered 
their  excesses  as  the  first  effects  of  sudden  rejief  from 
oppression,  and   hoped   that   experience  would   produce 
sobriety  of  conduct  and  reverence  for  law.     They  .hailed 
the  French  revolution  as  the  offspring  of  their  own,  and 
cherished  the  flattering  expectation  that,  by  the  diffusion 
of  the  principles  of  liberty,  the  whole  civilized  world 
would  become  partakers  of  its  blessings. 

41.  The  French  people,  at  the  same  time,  regarded  tho 
Americans  as  their  brethren,  bound  to  them  by  the  ties  of 
gratitude ;  and  when  the  kings  of  Europe,  dreading  tho 
establishment  of  republicanism  in  her  borders,  assembled 
in  arms  to  restore  monarchy  to  France,  they  looked  across 
the  Atlantic  for  sympathy  and  assistance.      The  new 
government,  recalling  the  minister  whom  the  king  had 
appointed,  despatched  the  citizen  Genet,  of  ardent  temper 
and  a  zealous  republican,  to  supply  his  place.     In  April, 
1793,  he  arrived  at  Charleston,  in  South- Carolina,  where 
he  was  received,  by  the  governor  and  the  citizens,  in  a 
manner  expressive  of  their  warm  attachment  to  his  country, 
and  their  cordial  approbation  of  the  change  in  her  insti 
tutions. 

42.  Flattered  by  his  reception,  and  presuming  that  tho 
nation  and  the  government  were  actuated  by  similar  feel 
ings,  he  assumed  the  authority  of  expediting  privateers 
from  that  port  to  cruise  against  the  vessels  of  nations  who 
were  enemies  to  France,  but  at  peace  with  the  United 
States,  a  procedure  forbidden  by  the  laws  of  nations,  and 
derogatory  to  the  government  of  the  country.     Notwith 
standing  this  illegal  assumption  of  power,  he  received,  on 
his  journey  to  Philadelphia,  extravagant  marks  of  public 
attachment ;  and,  on  his  arrival  there.  "  crowds  flocked 
from  every  avenue  of  tho  city  to  meet  the  republican  am 
bassador  of  an  allied  nation."    Intoxicated  by  these  con- 


1793.]  ADMIN  ISTRATIUN.  ®Q 

tinned  and  increased  demonstrations  of  regard,  he  persisted 
in  forming  and  executing  schemes  of  hostility  against  the 
enemies  of  France. 

43.  The  British  minister  complained  to  the  president, 
who,  by  the  unanimous  advice  of  his  cabinet,  directed  Mr. 
Jefferson,  the  secretary  of  state,  to  lay  before  the  minister 
of  France  the  principles  which  would  regulate  the  conduct 
of  the  executive  in  relation  to  the  powers  at  war.    These 
principles  forbade  the  course  which  Mr.  Genet  had  pur 
sued.  Relying  on  the  popularity  of  his  nation,  he  attempted, 
by  insolent  and  offensive  declarations,  to  drive  the  president 
from  the  ground  he  had  taken.    He  threatened  to  appeal 
from  the  government  to  the  people,  a  measure  which  other 
agents  of  the  French  republic  had  adopted  with  success 
in  Europe.    Here  the  result  was  different.     The  people 
rallied  around  rulers,  having  the  same  interest  as  them 
selves.     The  minister  was  abandoned  by  most  of  his 
friends ;  his  government,  at  the  request  of  the  president, 
annulled  his  powers  ;  and  fearing  to  return,  he  remained 
in  the  country,  a  striking  example  of  the  imbecility  of  a 
factious  individual  among  a  people  confiding  in  their  rulers, 
and  contented  with  their  lot. 

44.  This  conduct  of  Mr.  Genet,  the  attrocities  commit 
ted  by  the  French  people,  and  the  dreaded  danger  of  their 
example,  alienated  from  them  many  of  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  especially  those  belonging  to  the  federal 
party.    And  as  the  world  was  then  agitated  by  the  mighty 
contest  between  France  and  Great  Britain—- a  contest 
which  permitted  not  neutrality  of  feeling — those  .who 
became  hostile  to  the  former  became  naturally  the  friends 
of  the  latter.      To  her  they  were  besides  attracted  by 
identity  of  origin,  by  resemblance  of  institutions,  by  simi 
larity  of  language,  by  community  of  laws,  of  literature, 
and  of  religion. 

45.  The  republicans  retained  an  unabated  affection  for 
the  French,  whose  services  they  remembered  with  grati 
tude,  and  whose  struggles  for  freedom,  against  the  league 
of  European  tyrants,  engaged  all  their  sympathy.     Over 
these  two  parties  Washington,  admitting  no  thought  but 
for  his   own  country,  watched  with  anxious  solicitude, 
striving  to  restrain  their  aberrations,  and  to  temper  their 
mutual  animosities. 

46.  After  the  defeat  of  St.  Clair  by  the  Indians,  in  1791, 
general  Wayne  was  appointed  to  command  the  American 


£30  WASH1NGTOVS  [179'5, 

forces.  Taking  post  near  the  country  of  the  enemy,  he 
made  assiduous  and  long  protracted  endeavors  to  negotiate 
a  peace.  Failing  in  these,  he  marched  against  them,  at 
the  head  of  three  thousand  men.  On  the  20th  of  August, 
1794,  an  action  took  place  in  the  vicinity  of  one  of  the 
British  garrisons,  on  the  banks  of  the  Miami.  A  rapid 
and  vigorous  charge  roused  the  savages  from  their  coverts, 
and  they  were  driven  more  than  two  miles  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet.  Broken  and  dismayed,  they  fled  without 
renewing  the  combat.  Their  houses  and  cornfields  were 
destroyed,  and  forts  were  erected  on  the  sites  of  the  towns 
laid  waste.  In  1795,  a  treaty  was  concluded  at  Grenville, 
which,  long  and  faithfully  observed,  gave  peace  and  se 
curity  to  the  frontier  inhabitants,  permitting  the  abundant 
population  of  the  eastern  states  to  spread,  with  astonishing- 
rapidity,  over  the  fertile  region  north-west  of  the  Ohio. 

47.  The  tax  which  had  been  imposed  upon  spirits  dis 
tilled  within  the  country,  bearing  heavily  upon  the  people 
in  the  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  produced  then; 
disaffection  and  disturbance.     All  excise  taxes,  of  which 
this  was  one,  being  considered  hostile  to  liberty,  great 
exertions  were  made   to  excite   the   public  resentment 
against  those  who  should  willingly  pay  it,  and  especially 
against  the  officers  appointed  to  collect  it.     In  September, 
1791,  a  large  meeting  of  malcontents  was  held  at  Pitts 
burgh,  at  which  resolutions,  encouraging  resistance  to  the 
laws,  were  passed  ;  and  subsequently  other  meetings  were 
held,  at  which  similar  resolutions  were  adopted.     Com 
mittees  of  correspondence  were  also  appointed  to  give  unity 
of  system  to  their  measures,  and  to  increase  the  number 
of  their  associates. 

48.  A  proclamation  of  the  president,  exhorting  all  per 
sons  to  desist  from  illegal  combinations,  and  calling  on  the 
magistrates  to  e»  cute  the  laws,  was  disregarded.     The 
marshall  of  the  state,  while  serving  processes  upon  delin 
quents  and  offenders,  was  resisted  and  fired  upon.     The 
inspector  of  the  revenue,  dreading  the  indignation  of  the 
populace,  procured  a  small  detachment  of  soldiers  to  guard 
his  house.     These  were  attacked  by  a  body  of  five  hundred, 
insurgents,  who,  setting  fire  to  several  contiguous  buildings, 
obliged  the  soldiers  to  leave  the  house,  and  deliver  them 
selves  up.     Several  individuals,  zealous  in  supporting  the 
government,  were  ordered  to  quit  the  country  and  compelled 
to  obey.     An  intention  was  openly  avowed  of  forcibly 


1795.]  ADMINISTRATION.  231 

resisting  the  general  government  with  the  view  of  extort 
ing  a  repeal  of  the  offensive  laws.  The  effective  strength 
of  the  insurgents  was  computed  at  seven  thousand  men. 

49.  The  president,  conceiving  himself  bound  by  the  most 
solemn  obligations,  "  to  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faith 
fully  executed,"  determined  to  call  out  a  part  of  the  militia 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  adjacent  states,  to  suppress  this 
insurrection.     In  the  autumn  of  1794,  fifteen  thousand 
were  detached,  and  being  placed  under  the  command  of 
governor  Lee,  of  Virginia,  were  marched  into  the  disaf 
fected  counties.      The  strength  of  this  army  rendering 
resistance  desperate,  none  was  offered,  and  no  blood  was 
shed.    A  few  of  the  most  active  leaders  were  seized  and 
detained  for  legal  prosecution.     The  great  body  of  the 
insurgents  on  submission  were  pardoned,  as  were  also  the 
leaders,  after  trial  and  conviction  of  treason.     The  govern 
ment  acquired  the  respect  of  the  people,  by  this  exertion 
of  its  force,  and  their  affection,  by  this  display  of  its  lenity. 

50.  Since  the  peace  of  1783,  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States,  had  each  incessantly  complained  that  the 
other  had  violated  the  stipulations  contained  in  the  treaty. 
The  former  was  accused  of  having  carried  away  negroes 
at  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war;  and  of  retaining  iu 
her  possession  certain  military  posts  situated  in  the  west 
ern  wilderness,  and  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States, 
in  consequence  of  which  the  Americans  were  deprived  of 
their  share  of  the  fur  trade,  and  the  Indians  incited  to 
make  incursions  upon  the  frontier  settlements.     The  latter 
were  accused  of  preventing  the  loyalists  from  regaining 
possession  of  their  estates,  and   British  subjects   from 
recovering  debts  contracted  before  the  commencement  of 
hostilities. 

51.  For  the  purpose  of  adjusting  these  mutual  complaints, 
and  also  of  concluding  a  commercial  treaty,  Mr.  Adams,  in 
1785,  was  appointed  minister  to  London.     Great  Britain, 
aware  that  the  articles  of  confederation  did  not  authorize 
congress  to  bind  the  states  by  a  commercial  treaty,  de 
clined  then  to  negotiate.     After  the  constitution   was 
ratified,  ministers  were  interchanged,  and  the  discussion 
was  prosecuted  with  no  little  acrimony  and  zeal. 

52.  In   1794,  Mr.   Jay  being  then  minister  from  the 
United  States,  a  treaty  was  concluded,  which,  in  the 
spring  of  the  next  year  was  laid  before  the  senate.     That; 
body  advised  the  president  to  ratify  it,  on  condition  that; 
un  alteration  should  be  made  in  one  of  the  articles.    !<-; 


832  WASHINGTON'S  [1795,: 

f  contents  having,  in  the  mean  time,  been  disclosed,  the 
republican  party  exclaimed,  in  intemperate  language, 
figainst  most  of  the  stipulations  it  contained.  The 
partisans  of  France  swelled  the  cry  of  condemnation. 
Public  meetings  were  held  in  various  parts  of  the  union, 
at  which  resolutions  were  passed  expressing  warm  disap 
probation  of  the  treaty,  and  an  earnest  wish  that  the ' 
president  would  withhold  his  ratification.  Such  appeared 
to  be  the  wish  of  a  great  majority  of  the  people. 

53.  General  Washington,  believing  that  an  adjustment 
of  differences  would  conduce  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
republic,  and  that  the  treaty  before  him  was  the  best  that 
could,  at  that  time,  be  obtained,  gave  it  his  assent,  in 
defiance  of  popular  clamor.     So  great  was  the  confidence 
reposed,  by  the  people,  in  their  beloved  chief-magistrate, 
that  the  public  sentiment  begaji  immediately  to  change. 
The  friends  of  the  treaty  not  only  increased  in  numbers, 
but  gained  courage  to  speak  in  its  defence.    And  during 
the  summer  of  1795,  the  nation  was  agitated  by  a  zealous 
and  animated  discussion  of  its  merits. 

54.  At  the  next  session  of  congress,  it  became  a  subject 
of  consideration  in  the  house  of  representatives.     The 
treaty,  its  negotiator,  and  even  the  president,  were  viru 
lently  censured,  and  warmly  defended,  in  a  debate  which 
has  seldom  been  equalled  for  its  intemperance,  its  eloquence, 
or  its  duration.     On  the  final  question,  a  majority  of  three 
voted  in  favor  of  the  appropriation  necessary  to  carry  it 
into  effect.     The  subsequent  prosperity  of  American  com 
merce  demonstrates  the  wisdom  of  the  president's  decision. 

55.  The  conduct  of  Spain  towards  the  United  States, 
Iiad  ever  been  cold  and  unfriendly.     She  feared  lest  the 
principles  of  liberty,  and  the  desire  of  independence  should 
find  their  way  into  her  contiguous  American  provinces. 
During  the  negotiations  at  Paris,  which  resulted  in  peace, 
she  secretly  exerted  her  influence  to  cause  the  western 
boundaries  of  the  new  republic,  from  the  great  lakes  to 
Florida,  to  be  fixed  two  or  three  hundred  miles  east  of  the 
Mississippi.     To  the  repeated  offers,  which  were  after 
wards  made,  to  form  with  her  a  commercial  treaty,  and  to 
make  arrangements  respecting  the  mutual  navigation  of 
that  river,  she  pertinaciously  declined  to  accede. 

56.  When  the  inhabitants  beyond  the  Alleghany  moun 
tains  had  become  numerous,  she  denied  them  access  to 
the  ocean  by  the  medium  of  that  river,  the  mouth  of  which 
was  within  her  province  of  Louisiana.    She  intended^ 


"Kitf.j  ADMINISTRATION,  23;) 

perhaps,  to  show  them  the  importance  of  that  privilege 
S>y  withholding  it,  and  to  allure  them,  by  the  promise  of 
restoring  it,  to  submit  to  her  authority.  The  people  of 
Kentucky,  indignant  at  the  deprivation,  laid  their  com 
plaints  before  congress.  In  bold  and  forcible  language 
they  asserted  their  rights,  by  the  laws  of  God  and  of 
nature,  to  the  free  use  of  that  noble  river,  and  demanded 
that,  at  any  cost,  the  acknowledgment  of  that  right  should 
be  obtained. 

57.  At  length  Spain  became  involved  in  a  war  with 
France.     Embarrassed  at  home,  and  intimidated  by  the 
unauthorized  preparations  which,  under  the  auspices  of 
Genet,  were  making  in   Kentucky  to  invade  Louisiana, 
she  intimated  her  readiness  to  conclude  a  satisfactory 
treaty,  should  a  minister  be  sent  to  Madrid  for  that  pur 
pose.     Thomas  Pinkney  was  accordingly  appointed.     In 
October,  1795,  a  treaty  was  signed,  securing  to  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
10  the  ocean,  and  the  privilege  of  landing  and  depositing 
cargoes  at  New- Orleans. 

58.  Thus  were  adjusted   all   controversies  with   two 
European  powers,  which,  while  they  existed,  retarded  the 
prosperity,  and  disturbed  the  tranquillity  of  the  country; 
and  from  which,  at  different  periods,  even  war  was  seriously 
apprehended.     In  1795,  a  treaty  was  also  concluded  with 
the  regency  of  Algiers,  with  which  the  republic  was  pre 
viously  at  war-     It  stipulated  that  the  United  States,  in 
conformity  with  the  practice  of  other  nations,  should,  as 
the  price  of  peace,  pay  an  annual  tribute  to  the  sovereign 
of  that  country. 

59.  Within  the  last  two  or  throe  years,  several  changes 
took  place  in  the  important  offices  of  the  nation.     On  the 
first  day  of  the  year  1794,  Mr.  Jefferson  resigned  the  office 
of  secretary  of  state.     He  had  performed  the  duties  of 
that  office  with  extraordinary  ability,  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  president.     Having  been  minister  to 
France  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution  there,  he 
became  acquainted  with  its  prime  movers,  and,  anticipating 
from  their  exertions  the  diffusion  of  the  principles  of 
liberty  and  the  renovation  of  the  government,  was,  in  the 
early  stages  of  its  progress,  its  enthusiastic  and  undis 
guised  defender.     Of  the  republican  party,  he  was  con 
sidered  the  leader,  enjoying  their  highest  confidence  and 
warmest  attachment.      He  was  succeeded  by  .Edmund 
Randolph,  of  Virginia. 

r  *> 


ii34  WASHINGTON'S  [1795* 

CO.  On  the  last  day  of  January,  1795,  Mr.  Hamilton 
retired  from  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  treasury.  He 
possessed  distinguished  talents,  and  had  exerted  those 
talents  to  establish  order  where  all  was  confusion,  and  to 
raise  from  the  lowest  depression  the  credit  of  the  country. 
His  complete  success  greatly  exalted  his  reputation,  and 
to  him  the  federalists  felt  a  sincerity  of  attachment 
equalled  only  hy  that  entertained  for  Washington.  With 
him  he  had  served  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  had  then 
acquired  his  confidence  and  affection,  which  he  ever  after 
wards  retained.  Being  the  advocate  of  an  energetic 
government,  and  averse  to  intrusting  much  power  with 
the  people,  he  was  peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the  republican 
party.  He  was  accused  of  partiality  to  England,  and  of 
misconduct  in  office.  After  the  closest  scrutiny,  his 
official  character  was  acknowledged,  by  his  enemies,  to  be 
without  stain.  He  was  succeeded  by  Oliver  Walcott,  of 
Connecticut. 

61.  At  the  close  of  the  year  1794,  general  Knox  resigned 
the  office  of  secretary  of  war,  and  colonel  Pickering,  of 
Massachusetts,  was  "appointed  in  his  place.     In  August 
Mr.  Randolph,  having  lost  the  confidence  of  the  president, 
and  having  in  consequence  retired  from  the  administration, 
Mr.  Pickering  was  appointed  his  successor  in  the  depart 
ment  of  state,  and  James  M'Henry,  of  Maryland,  was  made 
secretary  of  war.     No  republican  being  now  at  the  head 
jf  any  of  the  departments,  many  of  the  leaders  of  that 
party  withdrew  their  support  from  the  administration ;  and 
licentious  individuals,  in  their  abusive  attacks,  dared  to 
charge   even  the   president   with  corruption.     But  the 
confidence  of  the  people  in  his  integrity  and  patriotism 
experienced  not  the  slightest  abatement. 

62.  The  conduct  of  France  towards  the  American  re- 
•  public  continued  to  be  a  source  of  increasing  trouble  and 

vexation.  Mr.  Fauchet,  the  successor  of  Genet,  bore,  from 
those  by  whom  he  was  deputed,  the  strongest  assurances 
of  friendship  ;  but  encouraged  and  supported  by  a  numerous 
party,  ardently  attached  to  his  nation,  he  gradually  assumed 
towards  the  administration  the  tone  of  remonstrance  and 
reproach.  He  charged  it  with  sentiments  of  hostility  to 
the  allies  of  the  United  States,  with  partiality  for  their 
former  foes,  and  urged  the  adoption  of  a  course  more 
favorable  to  the  cause  of  liberty. 

63.  The  American  government  was  in  fact  desirous  of 
fulfilling  all  its  duties  to  France,  and  of  confiliating  her 


K96.]  ADMINISTRATION.  1>35 

friendship.  Mr.  Morris,  the  minister  to  Paris,  having 
Incurred  the  displeasure  of  those  in  power,  was  recalled 
at  their  request,  and  his  place  supplied  by  Mr.  Monroe  of 
Virginia.  This  gentleman  was  a  republican,  and  had 
embraced  with  ardor  the  cause  of  the  French  republic. 
He  was  received  in  the  most  respectful  manner  by  the 
convention,  who  decreed  that  the  flags  of  the  two  republics, 
intwined  together,  should  be  suspended  in  the  legislative 
hall,  as  a  mark  of  their  eternal  union  and  friendship. 

64.  Mr.  Adet  was  appointed  soon  after,  to  succeed  Mr. 
Fauchet.     He  brought  with  him  the  colors  of  France, 
which  he  was  instructed,  by  the  convention,  to  present  to 
the  congress  of  the  United  States.     They  were  received 
by  the  president  with  extraordinary  ceremonies,  transmit 
ted  to  congress,  and  afterwards  deposited  in  the  national 
archives.     In  the  house  of  representatives,  a  resolution 
was  unanimously  adopted,  expressing  the  lively  sensations 
which  were  excited  by  this  testimony  of  the  existing  sym 
pathy  of  the  two  republics,  and  their  hope,  that  the  bril 
liant  and  glorious  victories  of  the  French  people,  would 
lead  to  the  perfect  establishment  of  their  liberty  and 
happiness. 

65.  But  France  required  of  the  United  States  more  than 
professions  and  hopes,  and  more  than  by  treaty  she  was 
entitled  to  claim.     She  wished  to  make  them  a  party  in 
the  war  she  was  waging  with  the  despots  of  Europe. 
Failing  in  this,  and  jealous  of  the  more  intimate  relations 
contracted  with  her  enemy,  she  adopted  regulations  highly 
injurious  to  American  commerce,  directing  her  cruisers  to 
capture,  in  certain  cases,  the  vessels  of  the  United  States. 
In  consequence  of  these  regulations,  several  hundreds, 
loaded  with  valuable  cargoes,  were,  while  prosecuting  a 
lawful  trade,  taken  and  the  whole  confiscated. 

66.  Believing  that  the  rights  of  the  nation  were  not 
asserted  and  vindicated  with  sufficient  spirit  by  Mr.  Mon 
roe,  the  president  recalled  him,  and  Charles  C.  Pinkney, 
of  South-Carolina,  was  appointed  in  his  stead.    In  the 
summer  of  1796,  he  left  the  United  States,  instructed  to 
use  every  effort  compatible  with  national  honor,  to  restore 
the  amicable  relations  which  had  once  subsisted  between 
the  sister  republics. 

67.  General  Washington  having,  at  the  sacrifice  of  his 
own  predilections,  devoted  a  great  portion  of  his  life  to 
his  country;  having  successfully  conducted  its   armies 

..  through  an  arduous  conflict  for  existence ;  and  having 


V3ti-  WASHINGTON'S  ADMINISTRATION.  [1706. 

since  directed  its  course  through  the  most  critical  period 
of  an  experiment  under  a  free  constitution,  determined  to 
retire  to  the  enjoyment  of  domestic  happiness  and  rural 
quiet.  In  September,  he  announced  this  determination  to 
his  fellow  citizens,  and  feeling  for  them  all  the  solicitude 
of  a  father  for  his  children,  he  published  at  the  same  time 
a  farewell  address. 

68.  From  long  experience,  he  had  acquired  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  dangers  to  which  the  liberties  of 
the  republic  were  exposed.  These  he  deprecated,  and 
warned  his  countrymen  to  shun,  with  all  the  impressive 
energy  of  conviction,  and  all  the  ardor  of  parental  affection. 
He  besought  them,  especially,  to  frown  indignantly,  upon 
the  first  dawning  of  any  attempt  at  a  separation  of  the 
union ;  to  discard  local  attachments  and  sectional  animosi 
ties;  to  guard  against  the  excessive  indulgence  of  the 
spirit  of  party,  and  against  cherishing  a  hatred  of  particular 
nations,  and  an  affection  for  others. 

(Ji).  This  address  was  read  with  sentiments  of  profound 
veneration  in  every  part  of  the  union.  Some  of  the  stat<> 
legislatures  directed  it  to  be  inserted  at  large  in  their 
journals,  and  most  of  them  passed  resolutions  expressing 
their  respect  for  the  author,  their  high  sense  of  his  exalted 
services,  and  the  emotions  with  which  they  contemplated 
his  retirement  from  office. 

70.  To  fill  the  station  from  which  the  father  of  his 
country  had  resolved  to  retire,  the  two  great  political  par 
ties  brought  forward- their  chiefs.    The  federalists,  desiring 
t  hat  the  system'of  measures  adopted  by  Washington  should 
continue  to  be  pursued,  and  dreading  the  influence  of 
French  sentiments  and  principles,  made  the  most  active 
efforts  to  elect  John  Adams.     The  republicans,  believing 
their  opponents  less  friendly  than  themselves  to  the  maxims 
of  liberty,  and  too  much  devoted  to  the  British  nation  and 
to  British  institutions,  made   equal  exertions  to   elect 
Thomas  Jefferson. 

71.  The  result  was  the  choice  of  Mr.  Adams  to  bo 
president,  and  Mr.  Jefferson  to  be  vice-president.     Re 
leased  from  public  cares,  Washington  hastened  to  Mount 
Vernon.     Having  established  his  fame  as  the  greatest 
hero  and  most  distinguished  statesman  of  the  age,  he 
there,  devoting  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  an  extensive 
farm,  added  to  his  titles  of  renown  that  of  the  most  indu?- 
irious  and  intelligent  agriculturalist  of  his  count r-*. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

MR.  ADAMS'S,  MR.  JEFFERSON'S,  AND  PART 
OF  MR.  MADISON'S  ADMINISTRATION. 

DECLARATION    OF    WAR. 

MB.  ADAMS,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  his  presi 
dential  term,  received  from  Mr.  Pinkney  despatches  of  a 
mo$t  disagreeable  and  alarming  nature.  The  Directory, 
then  exercising  the  executive  authority  in  France,  had 
refused  to  accredit  him,  declaring  their  determination  not 
to  receive  another  minister  from  the  United  States,  until 
they  had  fully  complied  with  the  demands  which  had  been 
made.  He  was  moreover  ordered,  by  a  written  mandate, 
to  quit  the  territories  of  the  republic. 

2.  Congress  were  immediately  convened,  and  the  des 
patches  laid  before  them.    Their  proceedings  indicated  a 
love  of  peace,  but  also  a  firm  determination  to  yield  to 
no  unjust  demand.     Laws  were  passed  authorizing  the 
president,  whenever  he  should  deem   it   necessary,  to 
detach  eighty  thousand  men  from  the  militia  of  the  United 
States,  providing  for  an  increase  of  the  navy,  and  for 
augmenting  the  revenue  of  the  nation.    To  display  to 
France,  and  to  the  world,  his  desire  of  peace,  and  to  leave 
no  means  unattempted  to  preserve  it,  the  president  resolved 
to  institute  another  and  more  solemn  mission.     General 
Pinkney,  John  Marshall,  and  Elbridge  Gerry,  were  accor 
dingly  appointed  envoys  to  the  French  republic,  and  were 
instructed,  as  the  first  had  before  been,  to  seek  a  recon 
ciliation  as  the  representatives  of  a  people  dreading  war 
much,  but  the  sacrifice  of  honor  more. 

3.  These  also  the  directory  refused  to  receive.    They 
were,  however,  addressed  by  persons  verbally  instructed, 
by  Talleyrand,  the  minister  01  foreign  relations,  to  make 
them  proposals.     In  explicit  terms,  these  unofficial  agents 
demanded  a  large  sum  of  money  before  any  negotiation, 
could  be  opened.     To  this  insulting  demand,  a  decided 
negative  was  given.      A  compliance  was  nevertheless 
repeatedly  urged,  until  at  length  the  envoys  refused  to 
hold  with  them  any  further  communication.    After  re 
maining  several  months  at  Paris,  pressing  in  vain  to  be 
received  and  heard,  two,  who  were  federalists,  were  ordered 
to  leave  France,  but  Mr.  Gerry,  who  was  a  republican, 
was  permitted  to  remain,  and  was  invited  singly  to  enter 


238  ADAMS'S  [1600. 

into  discussions  relating  to  the  commencement  of  a  nego 
tiation. 

4.  When  these  events  were  known  in  the  United  States, 
they  excited  general  indignation.     The  spirit  of  party  ap 
peared  to  be  extinct.     "  Millions  for  defence,  not  a  cent  for 
f  ribute,"  resounded  from  every  quarter  of  the  union.    The 
treaty  of  alliance  with  France  was  declared  by  congress 
to  be  no  longer  in  force.     Authority  was  given  for  captur 
ing  armed  French  vessels.    Provision  was  made  for  raising 
immediately  a  small  regular  army;  and,  in  case  events 
should  render  it  expedient,  for  augmenting  it.     A  direct 
tax  and  additional  internal  duties  were  laid. 

5.  To  command  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  presi 
dent  Adams,  with  the  unanimous  advice  of  the  senate 
appointed  George  Washington.     He  consented,  but  with 
great  reluctance,  to  accept  the  office,  declaring,  however, . 
that  he  cordially  approved  the  measures  of  the  government. 

6.  No  opportunity  was  presented  of  testing  the  courage 
and  skill  of  the  American  troops.     At  sea,  a  desperate 
action  was  fought  between  the  frigate  Constellation,  of  38 
guns,  commanded  by  commodore  Truxton,  and  the  French 
frigate  L'Insurgente,  of  40  guns.     The  latter,  although  of 
superior  force,  was  captured.     The  same  intrepid  officer, 
in  a  subsequent  action,  compelled  another  French  frigate 
of  50  guns,  to  strike  her  colors,  but  she  afterwards  escaped 
in  the  night. 

7.  The  United  States,  in  arms  at  home  and  victorious 
on  the  ocean,  commanded  the  respect  of  their  enemy. 
The  directory  made  overtures  of  peace.     The  president 
immediately  appointed  ministers,  who,  on  their  arrival  at 
Paris,  found  the  executive  authority  in  the  possession  of 
Bonaparte  as  first  consul.    They  were  promptly  accredited, 
and  in  September,  1800,  a  treaty  was  concluded  satisfac 
tory  to  both  countries. 

8.  While  this  negotiation  was  in  progress,  the  whole 
American  people  were  overshadowed  with  gloom,  by  tho 
sudden  death  of  the  FATHER  of  his  country.     On  the  14th 
of  December,  1799,  after  an  illness  of  one  day  only,  general 
Washington  expired.     Intelligence  of  this  event,  as  it 
rapidly  spread,  produced  spontaneous,  deep,  and  unaffected 
jrrief,  suspending  every  other  thought,  and  absorbing  every 
different  feeling. 

9.  Congress,  then  in  session  at  Philadelphia,  immedi 
ately  adjourned.     On  assembling  the  next  day,  the  house 
vf  representatives  resolved,  "that  the  speaker's,   chair 


1800.  J  ADMINISTRATION. 

should  be  shrouded  in  black,  and  the  members  wear  black 
during  the  session ;  and  that  a  joint  committee  should  be 
appointed  to  devise  the  most  suitable  manner  of  paying 
honor  to  the  memory  of  the  MAN  first  in  war,  first  in 
peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen." 

10.  The  senate,  on  this  melancholy  occasion,  addressed 
a  letter  of  condolence  to  the  president  of  the  United  States. 
"  This  event,"  they  observe,  "  so  distressing  to  all  our 
fellow  citizens,  must  be  particularly  heavy  to  you,  who 
have  long  been  associated  with  him  in  deeds  of  patriotism. 
Permit  us,  sir,  to  mingle  our  tears  with  yours.     On  this 
occasion  it  is  manly  to  weep.     To  lose  such  a  man,  at 
such  a  crisis,  is  no  common  calamity  to  the  world.     Our 
country  mourns  a  father.     The  Almighty  Disposer  of 
human  events  has  taken  from  us  our  greatest  benefactor 
iiiid  ornament.     It  becomes  us  to  submit  with  reverence 
to  HIM  who  maketh  darkness  his  pavilion. 

11.  "With  patriotic  pride  we  review  the  life  of  our 
WASHINGTON,  and  compare  him  with  those  of  other 
countries  who  have  been  pre-eminent  in  fame.    Ancient 
and  modern  names  are  diminished  before  him.     Greatness 
and  guilt  have  too  often  been  allied ;  but  his  fame  is  whiter 
than  it  is  brilliant.  The  destroyers  of  nations  stood  abashed 
at  the  majesty  of  his  virtues.  It  reproved  the  intemperance 
of  their  ambition,  and  darkened  the  splendor  of  victory. 

12.  "  Such  was  the  man  whom  we  deplore.     Thanks  to 
God,  his  glory  is  consummated.     Washington  yet  lives  on 
earth  in  his  spotless  example — his  spirit  is  in  heaven.    Let 
his  countrymen  consecrate  the  memory  of  the  heroic  gene 
ral,  the  patriotic  statesman,  and  the  virtuous  sage  :  let 
them  teach  their  children  never  to  forget  that  the  fruits 
of  his  labors,  and  of  his  example,  are  their  inheritance." 

13.  Agreeably  to  the  report  of  the  committee,  and  the 
unanimous  resolves  of  congress,  a  funeral  procession  moved 
from  the  legislative  hall  to  the  German  Lutheran  church, 
where  an  oration  was  delivered  by  general  Lee,  a  repre 
sentative  from  Virginia.     The  procession  was  grand  and 
solemn,  the  oration  impressive  and  eloquent.     Throughout 
the  union  similar  marks  of  affliction  were  exhibited.     A 
whole  bereaved  people  appeared  in  mourning.     In  every 
part  of  the  republic,  funeral  orations  were  delivered,  and 
the  best  talents  of  the  nation  were  devoted  to  an  expression 
of  the  nation's  grief. 

14.  In  pursuance  of  the  law  enacted  in  1790,  a  place 
had  been  selected  on  the  Potomac,  a  few  miles  abovu- 


240  JEFFERSON'S  [1801. 

Mount  Vernon,  for  the  permanent  seat  of  the  national  gov 
ernment.  Within  a  district  ten  miles  square,  which  was 
called  the  District  of  Columbia,  a  city  was  laid  out,  to 
which  the  name  of  Washington  was  appropriately  given. 
Public  buildings  having  been  erected,  the  officers  of  gov 
ernment  removed  to  that  place  in  1800,  and  in  November 
of  that  year,  congress,  for  the  first  time,  there  commenced 
its  session. 

15.  At  this  period,  a  presidential  election  again  recurred. 
From  the  time  of  the  adoption  of  the  constitution,  the 
republican  party  had  been  gradually  increasing  in  numbers. 
The  two  parties  being  now  nearly  equal,  the  prospect  of 
success  inspired  both  with  uncommon  ardor.     The  feder 
alists  supported  Mr.  Adams  and  general  Pinkney;   the; 
republicans,  Mr.  Jefferson  and  colonel  Burr.     The  two- 
latter  received  a  small  majority  of  the  electoral  votes  ; 
and  as  they  received  also  an  equal  number,  the  selection 
of  one  of  them  to  be  president  devolved  upon  the  house  of 
representatives.     After  thirty-five  trials,  during  which 
the  nation  felt  intense  solicitude,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  cho 
sen.    Colonel  Burr  received  the  votes  of  the  federalists, 
and  lost,  in  consequence,  the  confidence  of  his  former 
friends.    By  the  provisions  of  the  constitution,  he  became, 
of  course,  vice-president. 

16.  The  causes  which  rendered  Mr.  Adams  unpopular 
and  led  to  a  change  in  the  administration  were,  his  appar 
ent  coldness  towards  the  French  revolution ;  the  charge  that 
the  federalists  generally  were  partial  to  Great  Britain;  the 
expenditure  of  money  for  building  a  navy  and  for  other  pur 
poses  alleged  to  be  impolitic  or  useless  ;  the  enactment  of 
the  alien  law,  by  which  the  president  was  authorized  to 
compel  suspected  foreigners  to  leave  the  country,  and  of  the 
sedition  law  which  provided  that  the  authors  and  publish 
ers  of  false  and  malicious  accusations  against  the  president 
and  members  of  congress  should  be  prosecuted  and  pun 
ished.     But  more  effectual  than  these  was  the  charge  that 
Mr.  Adams,  and  the  party  which  supported  him,  entertain 
ed  political  opinions  less  favorable  to  liberty  than  those  of 
the  party  which  opposed  him. — By  deserting  a  man  so  dis 
tinguished  as  Mr.  Adams  for  his  talents,  for  his  experience 
in  political  affairs,  and  for  the  important  services  which 
he  had  rendered  to  his  country  in  the  revolutionary  strug 
gle,  the   people   showed  how  jealous  they  were  of  the 
liberty  they  had  obtained,  and  how  firmly  they  were 
determined  to  guard  it  from  even  possible  danger. 


1802.]  ADMINISTRATION.  ^4* 

17.  The  control  of  the  government  being  now  transfer 
red  to  the  republican  party,  they,  at  the  next  session  of 
congress,  repealed,  after  a  long  and  eloquent  debate,  a 
law  altering  the  judicial  system,  which  had  been  passed 
at  the  close  of  Mr.  Adams's  administration.     This  repeal 
annihilated  the  offices  of  sixteen  judges,  who  had  just 
been  appointed.     At  the  same  session,  the  internal  duties 
were  also  abolished. 

18.  A  second  census  of  the  people,  referring  to   1800, 
was  completed  in  1801.     They  amounted  to  5,319,762, 
having  in  ten  years  increased  nearly  one  million  four  hun 
dred1  thousand.     In  the  same  number  of  years  the  exports 
increased  from  nineteen  to  ninety-four  millions,  and  the 
revenue  from  4,77 1,000  to!2,945,000  dollars  !  This  rapid 
advance  in  the  career  of  prosperity  has  no  parallel  in  the 
history  of  nations,  and  is  to  be  attributed  principally  to  the 
institutions  of  the  country,  which,  securing  equal  privi 
leges  to  all,  give  to  the  enterprise  and  industry  of  all, 
free  scope  and  full  encouragement. 

19.  In  1802,  the  state  of  Ohio  was  admitted  into  the 
union.     It  was  formerly  a  portion  of  the  Northwestern 
Territory,  for  the  government  of  which,  in  1787,  an  ordi 
nance  was  passed,  by  the  continental  congress.     With 
i-ommendable  foresight  they  provided  that  slavery,  the 
soiirceSjpf  weakness,  of  poverty,  and  of  crime,  should 
never  qpst  in  that  extensive  and  fertile  region.     This  is 
doubtless  one  of  the  causes  of  the  unparalleled  rapidity  oi' 
its  population.    In  thirty  years  from  its  first  settlement, 
the  number  of  its  inhabitants  exceeded  half  a  million. 
The  state  of  Tennesee,  which  was  previously  a  part  oi' 
North-Carolina,  and  lies  between  that  state  and  the  river 
Mississippi,  was  admitted  in  1796. 

20.  The  right  of  deposit  at  New-Orleans,  conceded  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  by  Spain,  and  necessary 
10  the  people  $f  the  western  country,  had,  until  this  peri 
od,  been  freely  enjoyed.    In  October,  the  chief  officer  of 
that  city,  prohibited  the  exercise  of  it  in  future.     This 
violation  of  a  solemn  engagement  produced,  throughout 
the  states  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  indignant  clamor  and 
violent  commotion.    In  congress,  a  proposition  was  made 
to  take  possession,   by  force,  of  the  whole  province  of 
Louisiana,  and  the  injured  people  of  the  west  were  eager 
lor  permission  to  avenge  their  wrongs,  and  to  regain  their 
rights,  by  the  sword. 

21.  A   more  pacific  course  was  adopted.    Knowing 

v 


that  the  province  had  been  ceded,  although  not  transferred, 
to  France,  the  president  instituted  a  negotiation  to  acquire 
it  by  purchase.  In  April,  1803,  a  treaty  was  concluded, 
Conveying  it  to  the  United  States  for  fifteen  millions  of 
dollars. 

22.  The  territory  thus  added  to  the  national  domain, 
was  first  discovered  by  the  French,  who,  in  1699,  began  a 
settlement  within  its  limits.     It  continued  a  colony  of 
that  nation  until  1762,  when  it  was  ceded  to  Spain.     In 
her  possession  it  remained,  slowly  increasing  in  popula 
tion,  until   October,   1800   when   it   was   retroceded  to 
France,  and  by  her  was  afterwards,  as  has  been  related, 
transferred  to  the  United  States.     The  inhabitants,   a 
mixture  of  French  and  Spaniards,  were  not  numerous. 
Its  boundaries  have  never  been  defined.     They  embrace, 
at  a  moderate  estimation,  a  territory  more  extensive  than 
some  of  the  most  powerful  European  kingdoms,  and  in. 
many  parts  the  soil  is  exceedingly  fertile.     Its  acquisition 
was  considered,  by  the  United   States?  of  the  greatest 
importance,  as  it  gave  them  the  entire  control  of  a  river,, 
which  is  one  of  the  noblest  in  the  world. 

23.  Since  the  year  1801,  war  had  existed  between  the? 
United  States  and  Tripoli,  one  of  the  states  of  Barbary, 
sitnated  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean.     No  memo 
rable  event  occurred  until  1803,  when  a  large  souadron, 
under  the  command  of  commodore  Freble,  was  dejiatcbed 
into  that  sea.     On  arriving  before  Tripoli,  captain  Bain- 
bridge,  in  the  frigate  Philadelphia,  of  44  guns,  was  sent 
into  the  harbor  to  reconnoitre.    While  in  eager  pursuit  of 
a  small  vessel,  he  unfortunately  advanced  so  far  that  th« 
frigate  grounded,  and  all  attempts  to  remove  her  were  in 
vnin.     The  sea  around  her  was  immediately  covered  with 
Tripolitan  gun-boats,  and  cnptain  Bainbridge  was  compel 
led  to  surrender.     The  officers  were  considered  as  pris 
oners  of  war  ;  but  the  crew,  according  to  the  custom  of 
Barbary,  were  treated  as  slaves. 

24.  At  the  capture  of  this  frigate,  the  enemy  rejoiced 
and  exulted  beyond  measure.     Lieutenant  Stephen  Deca- 
tur  conceived  the  design  of  retaking  or  destroying  her. 
Commodore  Preble,  applauding  the  spirit  of  the  youthful 
hero,  granted  him  permission  to  make  the  attempt .     In 
February,    1804,   he  sailed   from  Syracuse,   in  a   small 
schooner,  having  on  board  but  seventy-six  men,  entered 
undiscovered  the  harbor  of  Tripoli,  and  advancing  boldiv 
took  a  station  alongside  the  frigate.    Perceiving  the  crevr 


1805.]  ADMIXISTRATION.  2'U 

in*  consternation,  Decatur  sprang  on  board,  his  men  fol 
lowed,  and  with  drawn  swords  rushed  upon  the  enemy. 
The  decks  were  soon  cleared,  some  being  killed,  and 
uthers  driven  into  the  sea. 

25.  A  heavy  cannonade   upon  the   frigate,  from  the 
batteries  on  shore  and  the  corsairs  near,  was  now  com 
menced,  and  several  vessels  of  war  were  seen  approach 
ing.     She  was  set  on  fire  and  abandoned,  none  of  the 
party  being  killed  and  but  four  wounded.     Throughout 
all  the  piratical  states,  this  brilliant  exploit  exalted  the 
reputation  of  the   American  arms.      The   president,  in 
reward  of  his  address  and  bravery,  promoted  lieutenant 
Decatur  to  the  rank  of  post-captain  in  the  navy. 

26.  "While  the  squadron  remained  before  Tripoli,  other 
deeds  of  heroism  were  performed,  evincing  a  love  of  fame 
and  a  devotion  to   country  unsurpassed  in  Grecian  or 
Roman  .story*     The  events  and  operations  of  this  war 
shed  •«,  lustre  upon  the  American  name,  gave  experience 
and  character  to  the  officers,  and  prepared  them  to  acquire 
greater  glory  in  a  contest  with  a  nobler  foe.     They  were 
equalled  however,  by  an  enterprise  on   land,  bold   and 
romantic  in  its  conception,  and  exhibiting,  in  its  execu 
tion,  uncommon  address  and  decision  of  character. 

27.  William  Eaton,  who  had  been  a  captain  in  the 
American  army,  was,  at  the  commencement  of  this  war, 
consul  at   Tunis.      He  there  became   acquainted  with 
Hamet  Carama'nly,  whom  a  younger  brother  had  excluded 
from  the  throne  of  Tripoli.    With  him  he  concerted  an 
expedition  against  the  reigning  sovereign,  and  returned 
to  the  United  States  to  obtain  permission  and  the  means 
to  undertake  it.     Permission  was  granted,  the  co-opera 
tion  of  the  squadron  recommended,  and  such  pecuniary 
assistance  as  could  be  spared  was  afforded. 

28.  To  raise  an  army  in  Egypt,  and  lead  it  to  attack 
the  usurper  in  his  dominions,  was  the  project  which  had 
been  concerted.     In  the  beginning  of  1805,  Eaton  met 
ilamet  at  Alexandria,  and  was  appointed  general  of  his 
forces.     On  the  6th  cf  March,  at  the  head  of  a  respecta 
ble  body  of  mounted  Arabs,  and  about  seventy  Christians, 
he  set  out  for  Tripoli.     His  route  lay  across  a  desert  one 
thousand  miles  in  extent.     On  his  march,  he  encountered 
peril,  fatigue,  and   suffering,   the   description  of  which 
would  resemble  the  exaggerations  of  romance.     On  the 
£sth  of  April,  having  been  fifty  days  on  the  march,  1m 
arrived  before  Dcrne,  a  Tripolitan  city  on  the  Mediterro* 


i;44  JEFFERSON'S  [1806. 

nean,  and  found  in  the  harbor  a  part  of  the  American 
squadron,  destined  to  assist  him.  He  learnt  also  that  the 
usurper,  having  received  notice  of  his  approach,  had 
raised  a  considerable  army  and  was  then  within  a  day's 
march  of  the  city. 

29.  No  time  was  therefore  to  be  lost.     The  next  morn 
ing  he  summoned  the  governor  to  surrender,  who  returned 
for  answer,  "  My  head  or  yours."  The  city  was  assaulted, 
and  after  a  contest  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  possession 
gained.     The  Christians  suffered  severely  and  the  general 
was  slightly  wounded.   Great  exertions  were  immediately 
made  to  fortify  the  city.     On  the  8th  of  May,  it  was  at 
tacked  by  the  Tripolitan  army.    Although  ten  times  more 
numerous  than  Eaton's  band,  the  assailants,  after  per 
sisting  four  hours  in  the   attempt,  were  compelled  to 
retire.     On  the  10th  of  June  another  battle  was  fought, 
in  which  the  enemy  were  defeated.     The  next  day  the 
American    frigate    Constitution   arrived  in  the  harbor, 
which  so  terrified  the  Tripolitans  that  they  fled  precipi 
tately  to  the  desert. 

30.  The  frigate  came,  however,  to  arrest  the  operations 
of  Eaton,  in  the  midst  of  his  brilliant  and  successful 
career.    Alarmed  at  his  progress,  the  reigning  bashaw  had 
offered  terms  of  peace,  which,  being  much  more  favorable 
than  had  before  been  offered,  were  accepted  by  Mr.  Lear, 
the  authorised  agent  of  the  government.     Sixty  thousand 
dollars  were  given  as  a  ransom  for  the  unfortunate  Ame 
rican  prisoners,  and  an  engagement  was  made  to  withdraw 
all  support  from  Hamet.     The  nation,  proud  of  the  ex 
ploits  of  Eaton,  regretted  this  diplomatic  interference,  but 
the  treaty  was  ratified  by  the  president  and  senate  ;  and 
thus  ended  the  war  in  the  Mediterranean. 

r>I.  Colonel  Burr,  having  lost  the  confidence  of  the  re 
publican  party,  became,  in  1804,  a  candidate  for  the  office 
of  governor  of  New- York  :  the  federalists  generally  gave 
him  their  votes,  but  Mr.  Hamilton,  considering  him  an 
unprincipled  politician,  openly  opposed  his  election.  The 
choice  fell  upon  the  rival  candidate.  A  duel  ensued 
between  these  distinguished  individuals,  the  challenge 
proceeding  from  Burr.  Hamilton  was  mortally  wounded. 
This  event  produced  a  strong  and  lively  sensation  through** 
out  the  union.  At  the  next  presidential  election,  which 
occurred  in  the  »«rme  year,  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  pres 
ident,  and  George  Clinton  of  New- York,  vice-preside nu 
the  former  rofeiving  all  but  fourteen  votes. 


1807.  j  ADMINISTRATION.  34  o 

32.  Burr,   notwithstanding  his  brilliant   talents,  now 
sunk,  for  a  time,  into  merited  obscurity.     His  future  eon- 
duct  showed,  however,  that,  while  unobserved  by  his  fel 
low  citizens,  he  had  not  been  idle.   In  the  autumn  of  1806, 
his  movements  in  the  western  country  attracted  the  notice 
«f  government.    He  had  purchased  and  was  building  boats 
on  the  Ohio,  and  engaging  men  to  descend  that  river. 
His  declared  purpose  was  to  form  a  settlement  on  the 
banks  of  the  Washita,  in  Louisiana  ;  but  the  character  of 
the  man,  the  nature  of  his  preparations,  and  the  incautious 
disclosures  of  his  associates,  led  to  the  suspicion  that  his 
true  object  was  either  to  gain  possession  of  New-Orleans, 
and  erect  into  a  separate  government  the  country  watered 
by  the  Mississippi  and  its  branches,  or  to  invade,  from  the 
'territories  of  the  United  States,  the  rich  Spanish  prov 
ince  of  Mexico. 

33.  From  the  first'moment  of  suspicion,  he  was  closely 
watched  by  the  agents  of  the  government.     At  Natchez, 
while  on  his  way  to  New-Orleans,  he  was  cited  to  appear 
before  the  supreme  court  of  the  Mississippi  Territory.   But 
he  had  so  enveloped  his  projects  in  secrecy,  that  sufficient 
evidence  to  convict  him  could  not  be  produced,  and  he  was 
discharged.     Hearing,  however,  that  several  persons,  sus 
pected  of  being  his  accomplices,  had  been  arrested  at  New- 
Orleans  and  elsewhere,  he  fled  in  disguise  from  Natchez, 
was  apprehended  on  the  Tombigbee,  and  conveyed  a  pris 
oner  to  Richmond.     Two  indictments  were  found  against 
him,  one  charging  him  with  treason  against  the  United 
States,  the  other  with  preparing  and  commencing  an  ex 
pedition  against  the  dominions  of  Spain. 

31.  In  August,  1807,  he  was  tried,  upon  those  indict 
ments,  before  John  Marshall,  the  chief  justice  of  the 
United  States.  Full  evidence  of  his  guilt  not  being  ex 
hibited,  he  was  acquitted  by  the  jury.  The  people,  how 
ever,  believed  him  guilty ;  and  by  their  desertion  arid 
contempt,  he  was  reduced  to  a  condition  of  the  most  abject 
wretchedness.  The  ease  with  which  his  plans  were  de- 
ff3ated,  demonstrated  the  strength  of  the  government,  and  his 
fate  will  ever  be  an  impressive  warning  to  those  who,  in  a 
free  country,  listen  to  the  suggestions  of  criminal  ambition. 

35.  The  wars  produced  by  the  French  revolution  con- 
-tinued  to  rage  in  Europe.  The  attempts,  made  by  the 
neighboring  kings,  to  compel  republican  France  to  resume 
her  monarchical  institutions,  had  not  only  been  resisted 
•and  defeated  by  her  indignant  citizens,  but  they  had.  fed- 
' 


CM6  JEFFERSON'S 

lowed  home  tiie  repelled  invaders  of  their  country,  and 
had  subdued  those  who  hegau  the  war  with  tlie  hope  and 
purpose  of  subduing  France.  The  nation  had  necessarily 
become  a  nation  of  soldiers,  and  one,  more  daring  aad  for 
tunate  than  the  others,  had  been  placed  at  their  head  as 
r-hiefof  the  Republic.  By  his  extraordinary  talents,  and 
the  vast  means  subjected  to  his  single  will,  he  acquired 
control  over  most  of  the  European  kingdoms. 

06.  England,  however,  unsubdued  and  undaunted,  had 
become  as  pre-eminent  on  the  water  as  France  on  the  land. 
Her  powerful  navy  expelled  every  hostile  navy  from  the 
ocean,  and  rode  triumphant  in  every  sea.  America  profit- 
ted  from  the  destruction  of  the  ships  and  commerce  of 
<ither  nations.  Being  neutral,  her  vessels  carried  from 
port  to  port  the  productions  of  France  and  her  dependant 
kingdoms;  nud  ulso  to  the  ports  of  those  kingdoms  the 
manufactures  of  England.  Few  ships  were  found  on  the 
ocean  except  those  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 

ST.  The  latter,  having  always  found  it  impossible  to 
man  her  numerous  fleets,  by  voluntary  enlistments,  had 
been  accustomed  to  resort  to  impressment,  or  seizing  by 
force  her  subjects  and  compelling  them  to  serve,  as  sailors, 
0:1  board  her  ships  of  war.  Soon  after  the  peace  of  1783, 
she  claimed  a  right  to  search  for  and  seize  them,  even  on 
board  of  neutral  vessels  while  traversing  the  ocean.  In 
the  exercise  of  this  pretended  right,  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  sometimes  by  mistake  and  sometimes  by  design, 
were  seized,  dragged  from  their  friends,  transported  to 
flistant  parts  of  the  world,  compelled  to  perform  the  de 
grading  duty  of  British  sailors,  and  to  fight  with  nations  at 
peace  with  their  own.  Against  this  outrage  upon  personal 
liberty  and  the  rights  of  American  citizens,  Washington, 
A  darns,  and  Jefferson  had  remonstrated  in  vain.  The 
abuse  continued,  and  every  year  added  to  its  enormity, 
until  a  feeling  of  resentment  was  aroused  worthy  the  best 
period  of  the  Roman  republic. 

38.  But  not  in  this  mode  only  were  the  rights  of  the 
United  States  invaded  and  their  interest  sacrificed  on  the 
ocean.  The  carrying  trade  afforded  a  harvest  too  rich,  and 
too  tempting  to  British  cupidity,  to  be  long  enjoyed  unmo 
lested.  American  ships,  carrying  to  Europe  the  produce 
of  French  colonies,  were,  in.  an  early  stage  of  the  war, 
captured  by  British  cruisers,  and  condemned  by  their 
courts  as  lawful  prizes.  Several  European  ports  under 
"be  control  of  France,  were  declared,  bv  British  orders  in 


1307.]  ADMINISTRATION.  247 

council,  dated  in  May,  1800,  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade,, 
although  not  invested  with  a  British  fleet,  and  American 
vessels,  attempting  to  enter  those  ports,  were  also  captured 
and  condemned. 

39.  France  and  her  allies  suffered,  as  well  as  the  United 
States,  from  these  transgressions  of  the  Jaws  of  nations. 
Her  vengeance  fell,  not  so  much  upon  the  belligerent  in 
flicting  the  injury,  as  upon  the  neutral  enduring  without 
resenting  and  repelling  it.     By  a  decree,  issued  at  Berlin, 
in  November,   1806,  the  French  emperor  declared  the 
British  islands  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  of  course  au 
thorized  the  capture  of  all  neutral  vessels  attempting  to 
trade  with  those  islands.     From  these  measures  of  both 
nations,  the  commerce  of  the  United  States  severely 
suffered,  and   their  merchants  loudly  demanded  of  the 
government  redress  and  protection. 

40.  In  June,  1807,  an  event  occurred,  which  for  a  time 
concentrated  upon  one  of  the  rival  nations  the  whole 
weight  of  popular  indignation.     The  frigate  Chesapeake, 
while  near  the  coast  of  the  United  States,  and  unsus 
picious  of  danger,  was  fired  upon   from  the  Leopard,  a 
.British  ship  of  superior  force,  three  of  her  men  were 
killed  and  eighteen  wounded.    Being  unprepared  for  action, 
she  struck  her  colors,  was  then  bearded  by  a  detachment 
j'rom  the  Leopard,  her  crew  mustered  and  four  of  them 
forcibly  carried  off  upon   the  pretence  that  they  were 
British  deserters.     The  truth,  upon  investigation,  was 
ascertained  to  be,  that  three  of  them  were  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  had  been  impressed  by  the  British,  and  had 
afterwards  escaped  from  their  service. 

41.  This  insolent  attack  upon  a  national  ship, — this 
wanton  exercise  of  a  claim  derogatory  to  national  honor, — 
aroused  the  spirit  of  the  republic.     The  distinctions  of 
party  were  forgotten,  numerous  meetings  of  the  citizens 
were  held,  and  Jjll  concurred  in  the  expression  of  a  deter 
mination  to  support  the  government  of  their  country  in  its 
efforts  to  obtain,  whether  by  negotiation  or  war,  satisfaction 
for  this  insulting  outrage. 

42.  The  president,  by  proclamation,  prohibited  all  British 
ships  of  war  from  continuing  in  or  entering  the  harbors  of 
the  United  States.     He  sent  instructions  to  the  minister 
at  London  to  demand  satisfaction  for  the  insult,  and  security 
against  future  aggression.    He  summoned  congress  to  meet 
and  decide  what  further  measures  should  be  adopted.    The 
British  government  promptly  disavowing  the  act  of  its' 


2-18  "JEFFERSON'S. 

Y)fficer,  the  hostile  feelings  which  had  been  excited  began 
to  subside ;  but  delaying  to  render  satisfaction,  and  refusing 
xo  adopt  adequate  measures  to  prevent  a  continuance  of 
aggression,  they  were  not  extinguished  nor  appeased. 

43.  Bonaparte  having  declared  his  purpose?  of  enforcing 
Avith  rigor  the  Berlin  decree ;  the  British  government  hav 
ing  solemnly  asserted  the  right  of  search  and  impressment, 
and  having  intimated  their  intention  to  adopt  measures  in 
retaliation  of  the  French  decree,  the  president  recommend 
ed  to  congress  that  the  seamen,  ships,  and  merchandise 
of  the  United  States  should  be  detained  in  port  to  preserve 
them  from  the  dangers  which  threatened  them  on  the 
ocean.     A  law  laying  an  indefinite  embargo  was  in  conse 
quence  enacted.     A  hope  to  coerce  the  belligerent  powers 
to  return  to  the  observance  of  the  laws  of  nations,  by 
.depriving  them  of  the  benefits  derived  from  the  trade  cf 
America,  was  doubtless  a  concurring  motive  for  passing 
the  law. 

44.  A  few  days  only  had  elapsed,  when  information  was 
received,  that  Great  Britain  had  prohibited  neutrals,  except 
upon  the  degrading  condition  of  paying  a  tax  or  tribute  to 
her,  from  trading  with  France  or  her  allies,  comprising 
nearly  every  maritime  nation  of  Europe.     This  was  fol 
lowed,  in  a  few  weeks,  by  a  decree  issued  by  Bonaparte, 
at  Milan,  declaring  that  every  neutral  vessel,  which  should 
submit  to  be  visited  by  a  British  ship,  or  to  pay  the  tribute 
demanded,  should  be  confiscated,  if  afterwards  found  in 
Ms  ports,  or  taken  by  his  cruisers.     Thus,  at  the  date  of 
the  embargo,  were  orders  and  decrees  in  existence  render 
ing  liable  to  capture  almost  every  American  vessel  sailing 
on  the  ocean. 

45.  In  the   New-England  states,  the  embargo,  with 
holding  the  merchant  from  a  career  in  which  he  had  been, 
highly  prosperous,  and  in  which  he  imagined  that  he  might 
still  be  favored  of   fortune,  occasioned  discontent  and 
clamor.     The  federalists,  more  numerous  there  than  in 
any  other  part  of  the  union,  pronounced  it  a  measure  un 
wise  and  oppressive.     These  representations,  and  the  real 
•and  severe  distress  which  the  people  endured,  produced  a 
rapid  change  in  their  political  opinions,     in  a  short  time, 
a  majority  became  federalists,  and  opposed  with  zeal  all 
,ihe  measures  of  the  government. 

46.  In  the  fall  of  1808,  a  new  election  of  chief-magistrate 
took  place.     Mr.  Jefferson,  believing  that  no  person  should 
Md  that  office  more  than  eight  years,  and  desirous  of 


180&]  ADMINISTRATION.  249 


in^  the  example  of  Washington,  had  previously  an 
nounced  his  intention  to  retire  to  private  life.  James  Madi 
son  was  elected  president  andGeorgeClinton  vice-president. 

47.  In  March,  1809,  congress  repealed  the  embargo, 
rmd  substituted   a  law  prohibiting  all  intercourse  with 
France  and  Great   Britain.      Bonaparte,   in  retaliation, 
issued  a  decree,  at  Rambouillet,  directing  that  all  Ameri 
can  vessels,  which  were  then  in  the  ports  of  France  or 
might  afterwards  enter,  should  be  seized  and  confiscated. 

48.  In  the  nonintercourse  law,  a  provision  was  inserted, 
that  if  either  nation  should  revoke  her  hostile  edicts,  and 
the  president  should  announce  that  fact  by  proclamation, 
then  the  law  should  cease  to  be  in  force  in  regard  to  the 
nation  so  revoking.     In  April,  Mr.  Erskine,  the  British 
minister  at  Washington,  engaged,  on  the  part  of  his  govern 
ment,  that  the  orders  in  council,  so  far  as  they  affected 
the  United  States,  should  be  withdrawn  on  the  10th  ot' 
June  ;  and  the  president  immediately  issued  the  proclama 
tion  prescribed  in  the  law. 

49.  This  arrangement  the  British  ministry  refused  to 
ratify,  declaring  that  Mr.  Erskine  had  no  authority  to  make 
it.     Recalling  him,  they  appointed  Mr.  Jackson  his  suc 
cessor.     In  a  correspondence  between  this  gentleman  and 
the  secretary  of  state,  the  former  insinuated  that  tho 
American  government  knew  that  Mr.  Erskine  was  not 
authorized  to  make  the  arrangement,  and  knew  of  course 
1hat  it  would  not  be  binding  on   Great  Britain.     This 
insinuation   was  distinctly  denied  by  the  secretary,  but 
was  subsequently  repeated,  in  an  offensive  manner,  by  Mr. 
Jackson.     He  was  immediately  informed,  that,  on  account 
of  his  indecorous  conduct,  no  other  communications  from 
him  would  be  received.     He  was  shortly  afterwards  re 
called  by  his  government. 

50.  The  nonintercourse  law  expired  in  May,  1810,  when 
a  proposition  was  made  equally  to  both  belligerents,  that 
if  either  would  revoke  its  hostile  edicts,  that  law  should 
be  revived  and  enforced  against  the  other.     In  August, 
Bonaparte,  by  his  minister  of  state,  assured  Mr.  Arm- 
stronjr,  the  American  envoy  to  France,  that  the  Berlin 
:md  Milan  decrees  were  revoked,  the  revocation  to  take 
effect  on  the  first  day  of  November  ensuing.     Confiding 
in  this  assurance,  the  president,  on  the  second  day  of 
November,  issued  his  proclamation,  declaring  that   all 
intercourse  with  Great   Britain  was  prohibited,  and  that 
>.n.  unrestrained  commerce  with  France  was  allowed." 


iSo  MADISON'S  11811. 

51.  Great  Britain  having  expressed  a  willingness  to 
repeal  her  orders  whenever  France  should  repeal  her  de 
crees,  she  was  now  called  upon,  by  the  American  envoy,, 
to  fulfil  her  engagement.     She  objected,  that  the  French 
decrees  could  not  be  considered  as  repealed,  a  letter  from 
the  minister  of  state  not  being,  for  that  purpose,  a  docu 
ment  of  sufficient  authority.     In  answer  to  this  objection, 
proof  was  presented  that  the  French  admiralty  courts 
considered  them  repealed,  and  that  no  American  vessel, 
although  many  had  entered  the  ports  of  France,  had  been 
subjected  to  their  provisions.     Great  Britain,  however, 
still  persisted  to  enforce  her  orders. 

52.  For  this  purpose,  she  had  stationed  ships  of  war 
before  the  principle  harbors  of  the  United  States.     All 
American    merchantmen,   departing   or   returning,   were 
boarded,  •searched,  and  many  of  them  sent  to  British  ports, 
as  legal  prizes.     Impressments  too  were  frequent,  and  the 
British  officers,  entertaining  exalted  ideas  of  their  naval 
strength,  and  holding  in  contempt  the  republican  Hag, 
exhibited,  on  all  occasions,  an  extreme  insolence  of  be 
havior,  which  nations  as  well  as  individuals  expose  them 
selves  to  incur,  by  long  and  patient  endurance  of  insult  and 
aggression. 

53.  In  one  instance,  however,  their  insolence  was  de 
servedly  punished.      Commodore  Rogers,  sailing  in  the 
frigate  President,  met,  in  the  evening,  a  vessel  on  the 
coast  of  Virginia.     He  hailed,  but  instead  of  receiving  an 
answer,  was  hailed   in  turn,  and  a  shot  was  fired  which 
struck  the  mainmast  of  the   President.     The  'fire  was 
instantly  returned  by  the  commodore,  and  continued  for  a 
lew  minutes,  when,  finding  his  antagonist  was  of  inferior 
force  and  that  her  guns  were  almost  silenced,  he  desisted. 
On  hailing  again,  an  answer  was  given,  that  the  .ship  was 
the  British  sloop  of  war  Little  Belt,  of  IB  guns.     Thirty- 
two  of  her  men  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  ship 
was  much  disabled. 

54.  Mr.  Foster,  successor  to  Mr.  Jackson,  arrived  at 
Washington  in  the  summer  of  1811,  and  proposed  terms 
-of  reparation  for  the  attack  on  the  Chesapeake.     These 
were  a  formal  disavowal  of  the  act,  restoration  to  the 
frigate  of  the  surviving  sailors  taken  from  it,  a  pecuniary 
•provision  for  those  who  wrerp  wounded,  and  for  the  fami 
lies  of  those  who  were  killed.     These  terms  were  ac- 
#epted  by  the  president. 

£5,  But  the  British  envoy  cor-M  give  no  assurance  that 


l^ii.'j  ADffiNISTRATIOX.  .fifrf 

his  government  was  disposed  to  make  a  satisfactory 
arrangement  of  the  subject  of  impressment,  or  to  repeal 
the  orders  in  council.  These  orders,  on  the  contrary, 
continued  to  be  enforced  with  rigor ;  and  on  the  restoration 
of  a  free  commerce  with  France,  a  large  number  of  Ameri 
can  vessels,  laden  with  rich  cargoes,  and  destined  to  her 
ports,  fell  into  the  power  of  British  cruisers.  Such  was 
now  the  state  of  affairs,  that  the  United  States  suffered 
the  e,vils  of  war,  while  great  Britain  enjoyed  the  advan 
tages.  Her1  cruisers,  since  1803,  had  captured  nine 
hundred  American  vessels. 

56.  The  patience  of  the  nation  was  exhausted.     Presi 
dent  Madison,  early  in  November,  1811,  called  congress 
together,  laid  before  them  the  state  of  foreign  relations, 
and  recommended  that  the  republic  should  be  placed  in  an 
attitude  to  maintain,  by  force,  its  wounded  honor  and 
essential  interests.     The  representatives  of  the  people, 
whose  sentiments  and  feelings  they  expressed,  determined 
to  act  in  accordance  with  the  views  of  the  president. 

57.  Laws  were  enacted  providing  for  the  increase  of 
the  regular  army  to  35,000  men ;  for  the  augmentation  of 
the  naval  establishment;  empowering  the  president  to 
accept  of  the  services  of  volunteers,  to  make  a  detach 
ment  from  the  militia,  and  to  borrow  eleven  millions  of 
dollars.      It  was  the  expectation  of  many  that  Great 
Britain,  witnessing  these  serious  preparations,  would  re 
cede  from  the  stand  she  had  taken. 

58.  Events,  however,  occurred,  while  congress  were  m 
session,  which  considerably  diminished  this  expectation. 
For  several  years,  the  Indian  tribes  residing  near  the 
remote  lakes  and  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  had  dis 
played  symptoms  of  hostility,  murdering   a  number  of 
whites  and  robbing  others  of  their  property,    In  the  fall 
of  1811,  general  Harrison,  with  a  small  force,  was  sont 
into-  their  territories,  instructed  to  negotiate  if  possible, 
but  to  fight  if  necessary.     On  the  6th  of  November,  lus 
arrived  at  Tippecanoe,  their  principal  town,  where  he  was 
met  by  Indian  messengers,  with  whom  an  agreement  was 
made,  that  hostilities  should  not  take  place  before  the  next 
morning,  and  that  then  an  amicable  conference  should  be 
held. 

59.  Just  before  daybreak,  the  savages,  in  violation  of 
their  engagement,  made  a  sudden  and  furious  attack  upon 
the  troops  in  their  encampment.     Nothing  but  the  pre 
caution  of  sleeping  in  order  of  battle,  on  their  arms*  savai. 


MADISON'S 

them  from  total  defeat.  A  dreadful  slaughter  was  made ; 
but  the  savages  were  finally  repulsed,  dispersed,  and  their 
town  laid  waste.  A  strong  belief  was  entertained,  founded 
upon  credible  testimony,  that  they  had  been  incited  to 
Hostility  by  British  agents  stationed  among  them. 

60.  In  February,  1812,  John  Henry,  who  had  once  re 
sided  in  Canada,  communicated  to  the  president  the  facty 
that  in  1809,  he  had  been  employed  by  the  governor  of 
that   province,  upon   a   secret   mission  to   Boston,  the 
metropolis  of  the  New-England  states ;  and  that  he  was 
instructed  to  confer  with  the  disaffected,  upon  the  subject 
of  a  separation  of  those  states  from  the  union,  and  their 
forming  a  political  connection  with  Great  Britain.    He 
exhibited  documents  in  support  of  his  disclosures,  which 
lie  was  led  to  make,  by  the  neglect  of  his  employer  tore- 
ward  him  for  his  services.     It  did  not  appear  that  he  had 
succeeded  in  corrupting  the  fidelity  of  any  individual ;  but 
the  attempt,  in  a  time  of  peace,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
most  amicable  professions,  not  only  preserved  in  fall  force 
Imt  increased  the  previous  irritation. 

61.  Congress  continued  to  be  employed  until  the  SOfek 
of  May,  in  making  preparations  for  war,  still  cherishing  the 
hope  that  a  change  of  policy  in  Europe  would  render  un 
necessary  an  appeal  to  arms.     On  that  day,  the  Hornet 
arrived  from  London,  bringing  information  that  no  prospect 
existed  of  a  favorable  change.     On  the  first  of  June,  the 
president   sent  a   message  to  congress,  recounting  the 
wrongs  received  from  Great  Britain,  and  submitting  the 
question  whether  the  United  States  should  continue  to 
endure  them  or  resort  to  war  1 

62.  The  message  was  considered  with  closed  doors* 
On  the  18th,  an  act  was  passed  declaring  war  against 
Great  Britain.     The  measure  was  decidedly  condemned 
by  a  considerable  portion  of  the  citizens,  among  whom 
were  many  honest  and  able  men.  Exercising  the  undoubted 
privilege  of  freemen,  they  examined,  with  the  severest 
scrutiny,  the  measures  and  motives  of  the  administration. 
They  asserted  that  the  war  was  unnecessary,  partial,  and 
unwise :  that  it  was  unnecessary,  because,  in  their  opinion, 
a  satisfactory  adjustment  of  all  disputes  might  have  been 
obtained  by  farther  negotiation :  that  it  was  partial,  because 
France  had  given  greater  provocation,  in  proportion  to  her 
means  of  annoyance,  than  Great  Britain :  that  it  was  un 
wise,  because  the  nation  was  not  prepared  for  war;  because, 
"by  declaring  it  against  almost  the  only  remaining  enerr. 


Ib  12.  j  ADMIN  1STRAT10N.  '&& 

of  France,  the  United  Stales  indirectly  but  powerfully 
assisted  Bonaparte  in  his  design  of  universal  conquest ; 
and  because  the  expenses  and  sufferings  it  must  unavoid 
ably  occasion,  would  more  than  counterbalance  all  the 
advantages  sought  to  be  obtained.  And  many,  passing 
the  limits  of  candid  and  temperate  discussion,  indulged  in 
a  virulence  of  inveciive  of  which  no  government  should 
be  the  object  that  is  not  manifestly  corrupt. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1812. 

THE  people  of  the  United  States  remembered,  with 
pride,  the  patriotism  and  bravery  exhibited  by  their  army 
in  the  revolutionary  war.  A  long  period  of  peace  and  pros 
perity  had  increased  their  confidence  in  their  own  strength ; 
and  the  belief  was  generally  entertained,  that  victory  over 
the  same  foe  would  now  be  so  much  the  more  certainly 
and  easily  gained,  as  the  nation  was  more  rich  and  jH>pn- 
lous.  They  did  not  reflect,  that  peace  had  impaired  the 
military  energies  of  the  republic,  while  their  enemy,  by 
constant  exercise  in  arms,  had  acquired,  not  only  additional 
strength,  but  greater  skill  to  use  and  apply  it. 

2.  From  the  veteran  officers,  who  had  acquired  fame  in 
the  former  conflict,  a  selection  was  made  to  fill  the  prin 
cipal  posts  in  the  new  ?rmy.     Henry  Dearborn,  of  Massa 
chusetts,  was  appointed  major-general  and  commander-in- 
chief.     He  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker's  hill.     In  the  ex 
pedition  against  Quebec,  he  served  as  a  captain  under  Ar 
nold.     He  distinguished  himself  on  these  and  other  occa 
sions;  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  bore  the  commission  of 
colonel.     He  held,  for  a  long  time,  the  office  of  secretary 
of  war,  and  discharged  its  duties  with  exemplary  industry 
and  skill.     Thomas  Pinkney,  of  South-Carolina,  was  also 
appointed  major-general.      Among  the   brigadiers   were 
Wilkinson,  Hull,  Hampton,  and  Bloomfield. 

3.  At  the  time  of  the  deiaration  of  war,  general  Hull 
was  also  governor  of  the  Michigan  territory,  of   which 
Detroit  is  the  capital.     On  the  12th  of  July,  with  two 
thousand  regulars  and  volunteers,  hi!  crossed  the  river  di 
viding  the  United  States  from  Canada.     On  the  same  day, 
lie  addressed  u  proclamation  to  tliQ  Canadians,  tendering 


MADISON'S 

them  the  blessings  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  and  assum 
ing  them,  in  a  lofty  tone,  "  that  his  force  was  sufficient 
to  break  down  all  opposition,  "  and  yet  was  but  the  van 
guard  of  one  much  greater.  It  appeared  to  be  his  purpose 
to  attack  Maiden,  and  thence  proceed  to  Montreal. 

4.  Had  the  attack  been  instantly  made,  success  would 
have  been  highly  probable.     A  month  was  wasted  in  ruin 
ous  delay.    Distrust  and  contempt  expelled  confidence  and 
attachment  from  the  breasts  of  the  Canadians.    The  ar 
dor  of  the  troops  began  to  cool.     Maiden  was  reinforced  ; 
and  at  this  critical  moment,  information  was  received  that 
Mackinaw,  an  American  post  above  Detroit,  had  surren 
dered  to  a  large  body  of  British  and  Indians,  who  were 
lushing  down  the  river  in  numbers  sufficient  to  overwhelm 
the  American  forces.     Panic  struck,   general  Hull  has 
tened  back  to  Detroit. 

5.  General  Brock,  the  commander*  at  Maiden,  pursued 
him,  with  a  force  superior  in  number,  but  composed  of 
militia  and  Indians.     On  the  14th  of  August,  he  erected 
batteries  opposite  Detroit.     The  next  day,  he  began  a  can 
nonade  upon  the  American  fortifications  which  was  re 
turned  with  precision  and  effect.     On  the  16th,  the  ene 
my  crossed  the  river,  taking  post  about  three  miles  above 
the  city.    Meeting  with  no  resistance,  and  hearing  that 
some  of  the  American  troops  were  absent,  general  Brock 
resolved  to  march  directly  forward  and  assault  the  fort. 

6.  The  troops,  cool  and  undaunted,  awaited  in  good  order 
the  approach  of  the  enemy,  anticipating  an  easy  victory. 
To  the  astonishment  of  all,  general  Hull  forbade  the  artillery 
to  fire,  and  hung  out  a  white  Hag  in  token  of  a  wish  to 
capitulate.     A  correspondence  between  the  two  generals 
was  immediately  opened,  which  ended  in  the  surrender  oi 
the  army  and  of  the  territory  of  Michigan, 

7.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  indignation  of  the 
soldiers  and  citizens,  when  they  saw  themselves  delivered, 
bv  the  authority  of  one  man,  into  the  power  of  an  enemy 
whom  they  supposed  they  might  easily  have  conquered. 
Many  believed  him  eK.her  a  traitor  or  coward.     An  event 
«o  disgraceful,  occurring  in  a  quarter  where,  success  was 
confidently  anticipated,  caused  throughout  the  union  the 
greatest  mortification  and  amazement.     Stung  by  disap 
pointment,  aH  united  in  censuring  general  Hull.     Ili.- 
greatest,  perhaps  his  only  fault,  was  want  of  decision  and 
energy. 

The  people  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky  were  alarmed, 


1812.]  ADMINISTRATION.  3a5 

Nearly  ten  thousand  citizens  made  a  tender  of  their  ser 
vices,  and  a  part  of  |nem,  placed  under  the  command  of 
general  William  H.  Harrison,  marched  towards  the  terri 
tory  of  Michigan.  But  great  and  numerous  were  the 
difficulties  encountered ;  the  volunteers  were  unwilling  to 
submit  to  the  wholesome  restraints  of  discipline ;  and 
winter  arrived  before  any  important  undertaking  could  be 
accomplished.  Several  incursions  were  made  into  the 
country  of  the  savages,  who,  instigated  by  British  agents, 
and  by  a  celebrated  Indian  prophet,  and  commanded  by 
Tecumseh,  a  gallant  warrior,  had  become  almost  universally 
hostile. 

9.  For  the  purpose  of  invading  Canada,  in  another  quar 
ter,  an  army  of  regulars  and  militia  were  assembled  on 
the  northern  frontier  of  New- York.     It  was  far  less  nu 
merous  than /the 'government  had  anticipated.     So  happy 
was  the  condition  of  even  the  poorest  class  of  American 
citizens,  that  but  few  could  be  induced  to  enlist  as  soldiers. 
And  in  some  of  the  states  the  plausible  doctrine  was  main 
tained,  that  the  oflicers  of  the  general  government  have 
no  power  over  the  militia,  until  called  into  service  and 
consigned  to  their  authority,  by  the  state  executive,  and 
that  even  then  they  cannot  be  compelled  to  march  beyond 
the  boundary  of  the  republic.     Several  governors  actually 
withheld  their  militia,  when  called  for  by  the  president, 
und  thus  dimininished  the  amount  of  one  species  of  force 
upon  which  the  general  government  had  relied. 

10.  General  Van  Rensselaer,  of  the  New- York  militia, 
being  the  senior  officer  on  that  frontier,  had  the  command 
of  these  troops,  which  were  called  the  army  of  the  centre. 
His  headquarters  were  at  Lewistown,  on  the  river  Niagara, 
and  on  the  opposite  side  was  Queenstown,  a  fortified  British 
post.     The  militia  displaying  great  eagerness  to  be  led 
against  the  enemy,  the  general  determined  to  cross  over 
to  Queenstown.     The  first  attempt  was  defeated  by  tem 
pestuous  weather.     On  the  13th  of  October,  a  party,  led 
by  colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  effected  a  landing,  although 
opposed  by  a  British  force  stationed  on  the  bank.     The 
colonel  was  severely  wounded,  but  tlie  troops,  under  cap 
tains  Ogilvie  and  Wool,  advanced  to  storm  the  fort.    They 
/rained  possession,  but,  at  the  moment  of  success,  general 
.Brock  arrived,  from  a  neighboring  post,  with  a  reinforce 
ment  of  six  hundred  men.     These,  although  the  most  nu 
merous,  were  gallantly  driven  back  by  the  American  troops. . 
!•.'  attrmplinir  to  rally  them,  general  Brock  was  killed. 


5256  MADISON'S  [1812 

11.  General  Van  Rensselaer,  who  had  previously  crossed 
over,  now  returned  to  hasten  the  embarkation  of  the  rear 
division.     Those  who  had  lately  shown  such  eagerness  to 
meet  the  enemy,  now  utterly  refused  to  pass  beyond  the 
national  boundary.     He  entreated  and  remonstrated,  but 
in  vain.     Meanwhile  the  enemy,  having  received  another 
reinforcement,  advanced  to  attack  the  Americans  in  the 
fort.     A  desperate  and  bloody  conflict  ensued,  of  which 
the  militia  were  calm  spectators.     In  the  end,  the  British 
were  completely  victorious.     Of  one  thousand  men,  who 
crossed  into  Canada,  but  few  effected  their  escape. 

12.  Soon  after,  general  Van  Rensselaer  retired  from  tho 
service  and  was  succeeded  by  general  Alexander  Smyth, 
of  Virginia.     In  a  turgid  address  to  the  "  Men  of  NewT- 
York,"  he  announced  that,  in  a  few  days,  he  should  plant 
the  American  standard  in  Canada,  and  invited  them  to 
share  in  the  danger  and  glory  of  the  enterprise.     His  force 
was  increased,  by  those  who  obeyed  his  call,  to  4500  men. 
The  morning  of  the  28th  of  November  was  assigned  as 
the  time  for  crossing.     So  tardy  were  the  movements  of 
the  troops,  that  until  afternoon,  the  first  division  was  not 
ready  to  leave  the  American  shore.     The  enemy  appeared 
in  force  on  the  opposite  bank ;  a  council  of  officers  decided 
that  it  was  inexpedient  at  that  time  to  cross ;  and  the 
troops  were  ordered  to  debark.     They  wrere  disappointed 
and  dissatisfied ;  but  their  clamor  was  appeased  by  the 
assurance  that  another  attempt  would  speedily  be  made. 

13.  The  next  day,  they  received  orders  to  be  in  readi 
ness  to  embark  on  the  first  of  December.     But  their  first 
disappointment  had  sensibly  damped  their  ardor.     At  the 
appointed  hour,  the  boats  were  not  ready  to  move ;  and 
when  ready,  hut  1500  men  were  found  willing  to  cross. 
A  council  of  war  decided  unanimously  against  proceeding, 
and  again  the  troops  were  ordered  t.o  debark.     The  plan 
of  invading  Canada  was  abandoned  for  the  season.     The 
blame  of  these  failures  was  attributed,  by  the  soldiers,  to 
their  commander;  and  so  highly  were  they  exasperated, 
that,  for  several  days,  his  life  was  in  danger  from  their  fury. 

14.  The  army  of  the  north,  which  was  under  the  imme 
diate  command  of  general   Dearborn,  was  stationed  at 
Greenbush,  near  Albany,  and  at  Plattsburgh,  on   Lake 
Champlain.     From  the  latter  post,  a  detachment  marched 
a  short  distance  into  Canada,  surprised  a  small  body  of 
British  and  Indians,  and  destroyed  a  considerable  quantity 
«f  public  stores.     Othor  movements  were  anxiously  ex- 


1312.]  ADMINISTRATION.  £57 

pected  by  the  people ;  but  after  the  misfortunes  at  Detroit 
:tnd  Niagara,  the  general  deemed  it  inexpedient  to  engage 
in  any  important  enterprise. 

15.  Thus  ended  the  campaign  of  1812.  Although,  on 
many  occasions,  extraordinary  gallantry  had  been  dis 
played,  yet  nothing  was  accomplished,  and  the  losses 
sustained  were  numerous  and  heavy.  Those  who  approved 
of  the  declaration  of  war  felt  disappointed,  mortified,  and 
dejected.  They  attributed  most  of  the  misfortunes  of 
the  country  to  the  conduct  of  the  federalists,  whom  they 
accused  of  endeavoring  to  prevent  enlistments  into  the 
army,  and  of  maintaining  the  most  pernicious  doctrines  in 
relation  to  the  militia.  The  federalists,  on  the  other  hand, 
attributed  these  repeated  failures  to  the  imbecility  of  the 
administration,  and  to  the  unwise  selection  of  military 
officers.  They  assumed  a  bolder  tone  of  censure,  and 
evinced  a  more  determined  spirit  of  opposition. 

1C.  But  while,  on  land,  defeat  and  disgrace  attended 
the  arms  of  the  republic,  on  the  ocean,  where  the  injuries 
\vhich  led  to  the  war  had  been  inflicted,  they  gained  a  rich 
harvest  of  victory  and  glory.  Upon  the  declaration  of 
war,  the  American  officers  and  seamen  glowed  with  ardor 
to  avenge  the  sufferings  of  their  impressed  fellow-citizens, 
and  to  vindicate  the  honor  of  the  republican  flag.  Thost 
fihips  of  war,  which  were  ready  for  sea,  immediately  sailed 
in  search  of  the  enemy. 

17.  On  the  19th  of  August,  captain  Hull,  who  com 
manded  the  Constitution  of  forty-four  guns,  descried  a 
British  frigate,.     His  crew,  giving  three  cheers,  requested 
to  be  placed  alongside  of  their  antagonist.     For  three 
quarters  of  an  hour,  the   latter   endeavored,  by  skilful 
maneuvering,  to  obtain  the  advantage  of  position.     De 
feated  in  this,  she  advanced  towards  the  Constitution, 
firing  broadsides  at  intervals.     When  she  had  approached 
within  half  pistol  shot,  a  tremendous  cannonade  burst 
upon  her  from  the  American  frigate.     In  thirty  minutes, 
every  mast  and  nearly  every  spar  being  shot  away,  she 
struck  her  flag. 

18.  She  was  found  to  be  the  Guerriere,  of  thirty-eight 
guns,  commanded  by  captain  Dacres.     Of  her  erew,  .fiftv 
were  killed  and  sixty-four  wounded.     She  had  received 
so  much  injury  that  it  was  thought  to  be  impossible  to  get 
her  into  port,  and  she  was  burned.     The  injury  sustained 
by  the  Constitution  was  slight ;  of  her  crew,  seven  were 
killed  and  seven  wounded.     Although  she  carried  a  few 

W  2 


-Iti  MADISON'S  ,    [1812. 

more  guns  than  her  antagonist,  yet  the  immense  disparity 
of  effect  clearly  demonstrated  the  superior  skill  of  the 
American  seamen.  Captain  Hull,  on  his  return  to  the 
United  States,  was  welcomed  with  enthusiasm,  by  his 
grateful  and  admiring  countrymen,  who  conferred  upon 
him  those  honors  and  distinctions  most  dear  to  the  patriot 
and  hero. 

19.  But  this  was  the  first  only  of  a  series  of  naval  vic 
tories.     On  the  18th  of  October,  captain  Jones,  in  the 
Wasp,  of  eighteen  guns,  captured  the  Frolic,  of  twenty- 
two,  after  a  bloody  conflict  of  three  quarters  of  an  hour. 
In  this  action,  the  Americans  obtained  a  victory  over  a 
force  decidedly  superior.     On  their  part,  but  eight  were 
killed  and  wounded ;  on  that  of  the  enemy,  about  eighty ! 
On  the  25th,  the  frigate  United  States,  commanded  by 
captain  Decatur,  encountered  and  captured  the  British 
frigate  Macedonian.  ^  The  former  carried  a  few  guns  the 
most,  but  the  disparity  of  loss  was  astonishingly  great. 
On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  a  hundred  and  four  were  killed 
and  wounded  ;  on  that  of  the  Americans,  but  eleven !  The 
Wasp  was  unfortunately  captured,  soon  after  her  victory, 
by  a  British  ship  of  the  Jltie;  the  United  States  brought 
her  prize  safely  to  New- York. 

20.  A  fourth  naval  battle  was   fought,  and  a  fourth 
victory  gained,  on  the  29th  of  December.     On  that  day, 
the  Constitution,  of  forty-four  guns,  then  commanded  by 
captain  Bainbridge,  captured  the  British  frigate  Java,  of 
thirty-eight.      The  combat  continued  more  than   three 
hours.     The  Java  was  reduced  to  a  wreck ;  of  her  crew 
'one  hundred  and  sixty-one  were  killed  and  wounded ;  of 
that  of  the  Constitution,  thirty- four. 

21.  These  successive  victories  were  peculiarly  gratifying 
to  the  nation ;  they  were  gained,  in  the  midst  of  disasters 
on  land,  and  by  that  class  of  citizens  whose  rights  had 
been  violated :  they  were  gained  over  a  people  claiming 
to  be  lords  of  the  sea,  whom  long  and  continued  success 
had  rendered  haughty  and  insolent,  and  who  had  confidently 
boasted  that  the  whole  American  navy  would  soon  be  swept 
from  the  ocean. 

22.  Many  British  merchantmen  were  likewise  captured 
by  the   American   navy ;    and  privateers,  issuing  from 
almost  every  port,  and  many  of  them  bearing  flags  inscribed 
"  Free  Trade  and  Sailor's  Rights,"  were  remarkably  suc 
cessful.     The  number  of  prizes  made  during  the  first  seven 

''tsantlv?  of  the  war.  exceeded  five  hundred. 


l^.j  ADMINISTRATION.  X$ 

23.  In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  the  quadrennial  period 
for  the  election  of  president  and  vice-president  again  re- 
rurred.  The  candidates  for  president  were,  the  incumbent, 
James  Madison  of  Virginia,  and  De  Witt  Clinton  of  New- 
York;  for  vice-president,  Klbridge  Gerry,  of  Massachu 
setts,  and  Jared  Ingersoll,  of  Pennsylvania.  Those  who 
were  opposed  to  the  war,  supported  Mr.  Clinton  and  Mr. 
Ingersoll;  and  they  were  joined  by  many  who  believed 
that,  should  the  former  be  elected  president,  and  should 
he  find  it  impractible  to  make  an  honorable  peace,  he  would 
call  forth  the  resources,  and  direct  the  arms  of  the  republic, 
with  more  decision  and  energy.  Great  exertions  were 
made  by  the  partizans  of  the  opposing  candidates,  and  the 
passions  of  the  people,  especially  in  the  middle  and  north 
ern  states,  were  highly  excited.  Of  the  electoral  votes 
given,  Mr.  Madison  received  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight,  and  Mr.  Gerry  one  hundred  and  thirty-one,  and  were 
elected.  Mr.  Clinton  received  eighty-nine,  and  Mr.  Inger 
soll  eitrhtv-six. 


CHAPTER  XXVII, 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1813. 

AT  the  commencement  of  the  session  of  congress,  held 
in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  president,  in  his  message,  stated 
that,  immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war,  he  commu 
nicated  to  the  British  government  the  terms  on  which  its 
progress  might  be  arrested ;  that  these  terms  were,  tho 
repeal  of  the  orders  in  council,  the  discharge  of  American 
seamen,  and  the  abandonment  of  the  practice  of  impress 
ment  ;  and  that  the  ministry  had  declined  to  accede  to 
his  offers. 

2.  Fie  also  stated  that,  at  an  early  period  of  the  war,  he 
had  received  official  information  of  the  repeal  of  the  orders 
in  council ;  that  two  propositions  for  an  armistice  had  been 
made  to  him,  both  of  which  he  had  rejected,  as  they  could 
not  have  been  accepted  without  conceding  to  Great  Britain 
the  right  ef  impressment. 

3.  The  rejection  of  these  propositions  was  approved  by 
the  national  representatives,  who,  far  from  abandoning  the 
ground  they  had  taken,  adopted  more  vigorous  measures 
for  the  prosecution  of  the  war.     The  bounty,  and  the 


-260  MADISON'S  [1813. 

wages  of  soldiers,  were  increased.  The  president  was 
authorized  to  raise  twenty  additional  regiments  of  infantry, 
1  o  issue  treasury  notes,  and  to  borrow  money.  Provision 
was  also  made  for  building  four  ships  of  the  line,  six 
i'rigates,  and  as  many  vessels  of  war  on  the  great  lakes  as 
the  public  service  might  require. 

4.  So  great  was  the  desire  of  the  citizens  of  the  western 
country  to  regain  possession  of  the  territory  of  Michigan, 
that,  in  order  to  effect  it,  general  Harrison  resolved  to 
undertake  a  winter  campaign.     General  Winchester,  with 
a  portion  of  the  western  army,  proceeded  in  advance  to 
Frenchtown,  a  village  on  the  river  Raisin,  not  far  from 
Detroit.     A  British  parly  stationed  in  the  village  was 
attacked,  routed,  and  entirely  dispersed. 

5.  The  Americans  encamped  near  the  field  of  battle,  n 
a  part  of  them  being  protected  by  close  garden  pickets. 
Although  near  an  enemy's  post,  but  little  precaution  was 
taken  to  prevent  a  surprise.     Early  in  the  morning  of  the 
£?3d  of  January,  they  were  attacked  by  a  large  force  of 
British  and   Indians,  the  former  commanded  by  colonel 
Procter,  the  latter  by  the  chiefs  Roundhead  and  Splitlog. 
The  troops  in  the  open  field  were  thrown  into  disorder. 
General  Winchester  and  other  officers,  made  an  ineffectual 
attempt  to  rally  them.     They  fled,  but  while  attempting  to 
escape  were  mostly  killed  by  the  Indians.    The  general  and 
colonel  Lewis  were  made  prisoners. 

0.  The  troops  behind  the  pickets  maintained  the  contest 
with  undaunted  bravery.  At  length  colonel  Proctor  assured 
general  Winchester,  that  if  the  remainder  of  the  Ameri 
cans  would  immediately  surrender,  they  should  be  protected 
from  massacre ;  but  otherwise  he  would  set  fire  to  the 
village,  and  would  not  be  responsible  for  the  conduct  of 
the  savages.  Intimidated  by  this  threat,  general  Win 
chester  sent  an  order  to  the  troops  to  surrender,  which 
they  obeyed. 

7.  Colonel  Proctor,  leaving  the  wounded  without  a  guard, 
marched  back  immediately  to  Maiden.  The  Indians  ac 
companied  them  a  few  miles,  but  returned  early  the  next 
morning.  Deeds  of  horror  followed.  The  wounded  offi 
cers  were  dragged  from  the  houses,  killed  and  scalped  in 
the  streets.  The  buildings  were  set  on  fire.  Some  who 
attempted  to  escape  were  forced  back  into  the  flames. 
Others  were  put  to  death  by  the  tomahawk,  and  left 
shockingly  mangled  in  the  highway.  The  infamy  of  this 
butchery  phouVI  not  fa]]  upon  the  perpetrators  alone.  Ir 


1813.]  ADMINISTRATION.  261 

must  rest  equally  upon  those  \vlio  instigated  them  to  hos 
tility,  by  whose  side  they  fought,  who  were  able,  and  were 
bound  by  a  solemn  engagement  to  restrain  them. 

8.  The  battle  and  massacre  at  Frenchtown  clothed 
Kentucky   and   Ohio   in  mourning.      Other  volunteers, 
indignant  at  the  treachery  and  cruelty  of  their  foes,  has 
tened  to  the  aid  of  Harrison.     He  marched  to  the  rapids 
of  Miami,  where  he  erected  a  fort,  which  he  called  fort 
Meigs,  in  honor  of  the  governor  of  Ohio.     On  the  first  of 
May,  it  was  invested  by  a  large  number  of  Indians,  and 
by  a  party  of  British  troops  from  Maiden,  the  whole  com 
manded  by  colonel  Proctor. 

9.  Five  days  afterwards,  general  Clay,  at  the  head  of 
1200  Kentuckians,  made  an  attempt  to  raise  the  siege. 
Dividing  his  force  into  several  parties,  and  making  an  im 
petuous  onset,  he  drove  the  besiegers  from  their  works. 
His  troops,  supposing  the  victory  complete  and  disregarding 
the  orders  of  their  commander,  dispersed  into  the  woods. 
The  enemy,  returning  from  their  flight,  obtained  an  easy 
victory.     Of  the  Americans,  two  or  three  hundred  escaped 
into  the  fort ;  about  three  hundred  were  killed  or  made 
prisoners ;  the  remainder  fled  to  the  nearest  settlements* 
The  enemy  sustained  considerable  loss. 

10.  The  fort  continued  to  be  defended  with  bravery  and 
skill.      The   Indians,  unaccustomed  to   sieges,  became 
weary  and  discontented.     On  the  8th  of  May,  notwith 
standing  the  entreaties  of  their  chief,  Tecumseh,  they 
deserted  their  allies.     On  the  9th,  the  enemy,  despairing 
of  success,  made  a  precipitate  retreat.     General  Harrison, 
leaving  general  Clay  in  command,  returned  to  Ohio  for 
reinforcements;  but  in  this  quarter  active  operations  were 
not  resumed  until  a  squadron  had  been  built  and  prepared 
for  action  on  Lake  Erie. 

11.  At  Sackett's  Harbor,  on  the  northern  frontier,  a 
body  of  troops  had  been  assembled  under  the  command  of 
general  Dearborn,  and  great   exertions?  were  made,  by 
commodore  Chauncey,  to  build  and  equip  a  squadron,  on 
Lake  Ontario,  sufficiently  powerful  to  contend  with  that 
of  the  enemy.     By  the  25th  of  April,  the  naval  prepara 
tions  were  so  far  completed  that  the  general,  and  1700 
troops,  were  conveyed  across  the  lake  to  the  attack  of 
York,  the  capital  of  Upper  Canada. 

12.  On  the  27th,  an  advanced  party,  led  by  brigadier- 
general  Pike,  who  was. bom  in  a  camp  and  bred  a  soldier 
from  his  birtlj.  landed,,  althongji  opposed*  ?t  the  water's* 


262  MADISON'S  [1813, 

edge,  tjji.a  superior  force.  After  a  short  but  severe  con 
flict,  trie -qnemy  were  driven  to  their  fortifications.  The 
rest  of  'the  troops  having  landed,  the  whole  party  pressed 
forward,  carried  the  first  battery  by  assault,  and  were 
moving  towards  the  main  works,  when  the  enemy's  maga 
zine  blew  up,  with  a  tremendous  explosion,  hurling  upon  the 
advancing  troops  immense  quantities  of  stone  and  timber. 

13.  Numbers  were  killed,  the  gallant  Pike  received  a 
mortal  wound ;  the  troops  halted  for  a  moment,  but  re 
covering  from  the  shock,  again  pressed  forward  and  soon 
gained  possession  of  the  town.     Of  the  British  troops,  one 
hundred  were  killed,  nearly  three  hundred  were  wounded, 
and  the  same  number  made  prisoners.     Of  the  Americans, 
three  hundred  and  twenty  were  killed  and  wounded,  and 
nearly  all  of  them  by  the  explosion  of  the  magazine.    The 
flag  which  waved  over  the  fort  was  carried  to  the  dying 
Pike  ;  at  his  desire,  it  was  placed  under  his  head,  when, 
with  the  smile  of  triumph  on  his  lips,  he  expired. 

14.  The  object  of  the  expedition  attained,  the  squadron 
and  troops  returned  to  Sackett's   Harbor,  whence,  the 
wounded  and  prisoners  bein/r  landed  and  other  troops  taken 
on  board,  it  sailed  to  Fort  George,  at  the  head  of  the  lake. 
After  a  warm  engagement,  the  enemy  abandoned,  and  the 
Americans  entered  the  fort. '   The  fugitives  retired  to  the 
heights,  at  the  head  of  Burlington  bay.     On  their  retreat, 
they  were  joined  by  a  detachment  from  Fort  Erie  and 
Chippeway.     Two  brigades,  under  generals  Chandler  and 
Winder,  were  despatched  in  pursuit.     On  the  evening  of 
the  5th  of  June,  they  encamped  at  Stoney  Creek,  in  the 
X'icinity  of  the  enemy,  who,  considering  thpir  situation 
desperate,  turned  upon  their  pursuers  and  attacked  them 
in  the  night. 

15.  The  Americans  received  them  with  coolness;  but 
such  was  the  darkness,  that  general  Chandler,  intending 
to  place  himself  at  the  head  of  his  artillery,  threw  him 
self  into  the  midst  of  a  British  party.     A  few  minutes 
afterwards,  the  same  mistake  was  committed  by  general 
Winder.     Satisfied  with  the  capture  of  these  officers,  and 
a  few  other  prisoners,  the  enemy  made  a  precipitate  re 
treat.     The  American  troops   returned  to  Fort  George. 
This  misfortune  was  soon  followed  by  another.     Lieuten- 
put-colonel  Boerstler,  having  been  sent  with  500  men,  to 
disperse  a  body  of  the  enemy  collected  at  the  Beaver  Dams, 
was  surrounded,  and  the  whole  detachment  made  prisoners, 

1$.  WHilrx  t!"1  <:ro2tor  r-nrt  °f  fnp  American  army  was 


1813.]  ADMINISTRATION.  at# 

thus  employed  in  Canada,  the  British  made  an  attack  upon 
the  important  post  of  Sackett's  Harbor.  On  the  27th  of 
May,  their  squadron  appeared  before  the  town.  Alarm 
guns  instantly  assembled  the  citizens  of  the  neighborhood. 
General  Brown,  of  the  New- York  militia,  commanded  in 
chief,  his  whole  force  amounting  to  about  one  thousand 
men.  By  his  orders,  a  slight  breastwork  was  hastily 
thrown  up,  at  the  only  place  where  the  enemy  could  land* 
Behind  this,  he  placed  the  militia,  the  regulars  under 
colonel  Backus  forming  a  second  line. 

17.  On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  one  thousand  British 
troops  landed  from  the  squadron.     They  advanced  toward 
the  breastwork.     The  militia,  seized  with  a  sudden  panic, 
fled  in  confusion.     Colonel  Mills,  in  a  vain  attempt  to 
rally  them,  was  mortally  wounded.     The  regulars,  after  a 
spirited  resistance,  were  compelled  to  retire  toward  the 
town,  but  in  their  retreat  they  took  possession  of  the  houses 
on  the  road.     From  these  coverts  they  poured  so  destruc 
tive  a  fire  upon  the  British  column,  that  it  halted  and  fell 
back.     General  Brown,  by  a  stratagem,  converted  this 
slight  check  into  a  precipitate  flight.     Collecting  the  panic 
struck  militia,  he  directed  their  course  along  a  road,  which, 
while  it  led  from  the  village,  appeared  to  the  British  com 
mander  to  lead  to  the  place  of  landing.     Perceiving  them 
marching  with  great  speed,  he  supposed  that  their  object 
was  to  cut  off  his  retreat,  and  re-embarked  so  hastily  as 
to  leave  behind  most  of  his  wounded.     General  Brown, 
in  recompense  for  his  services,  was  appointed  a  brigadier 
in  the  regular  army. 

18.  Meanwhile,  upon  the  sea  coast,  a  distressing  and 
predatory  war  was  carried  on,  by  large  detachments  from 
the  powerful  navy  of  Great  Britain.     One  squadron,  sta 
tioned  in  Delaware  bay,  captured  and  burned  every  mer 
chant  vessel  which  came  within  its  reach.   The  inhabitants 
of  Lewiston,  in  the  state  of  Delaware,  having  refused  to 
sell  provisions  to  the  enemy,  the  village  was  bombarded 
and  several  attempts  were  made  to  land,  but  they  were 
defeated  by  the  militia. 

19.  Early  in  the  spring,  another  and  more  powerful 
squadron  arrived  in  Chesapeake  bay.     It  was  commanded 
by  admiral  Cockburn,  who,  departing  from  the  usual  modes 
of  honorable  warfare,  directed  his  efforts  principally  against 
•unoffending  citizens  and  peaceful  villages.     The  farm 
houses  and  gentlemen's  seats  near  the  shore  were  plun 
dered,  and  the  cattle  driven  away  or  wantonly  slaughtered. 


i»t)4-  MADISON'S  [18  i& 

Frenchtown,  Havre  de  Grace,  Freclericktowu,  and  George- 
town  were  sacked  and  burned.  Norfolk  was  saved  from 
:i  similar  fate,  by  the  determined  bravery  of  a  small  force 
stationed  on  Craney  Island,  in  the  harbor.  A  furious 
attack  was  made  upon  Hampton,  which,  notwithstanding 
the  gallant  resistance  of  its  small  garrison,  was  captured, 
imd  the  unfortunate  inhabitants  suffered  all  which  a  brutal 
and  unrestrained  soldiery  could  inflict. 

20.  The  ocean,  in  the  mean  time,  had  been  the  theatre 
of  sanguinary  conflicts,  in  which  the  victors  gained  un 
tarnished  laurels.     Captain  Lawrence,  in  the  sloop  of  war 
Hornet,  discovering,  in  the  neutral  port  of  San  Salvador, 
u  British  sloop  of  war  of  superior  force,  challenged  her 
commander  to  meet  him  at   sea.     The  challenge  being 
declined,  captain  Lawrence  blockaded  the  port  until  forced 
by  a  ship  of  the  line  to  retire. 

21.  Soon  after,  on  the  23d  of  February,  the  Hornet  met 
the  British  brig  Peacock,  of  about  equal  force.    A  fierce 
combat  ensued.     In  less  than  fifteen  minutes,  the  Peacock 
struck  her  colors,  displaying,  at  the  same  time,  a  signal  of 
distress.     The  victors  hastened  to  the  relief  of  the  van 
quished,  and  the  same  strength  which  had  been  exerted  to 
conquer  was  now  exerted  to  save.     Their  efforts  were 
but  partially  successful.     She  sunk  before  all  her  crew 
could  be  removed,  carrying  down  nine  British  seamen  and 
three  brave  and  generous  Americans.     In  the  battle,  the 
loss  of  the  Hornet  was  but  one  killed  and  two  wounded ; 
that  of  the  Peacock  was  never  ascertained. 

22.  On  his  return  to  the  United  Slates,  captain  Law 
rence  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  frigate  Chesa 
peake,  then  in  the  harbor  of  Boston.     For  several  weeks, 
the  British  frigate  Shannon,  of  equal  force  but  having  a 
selected  crew,  had  been  cruising  before  the  port ;  and  cap 
tain  Brook,  her  commander,  had  announced  his  wish  to 
meet,  in  single  combat,  an  American  frigate.     Inflamed 
by  this  challenge,  captain  Lawrence,  although  his  crew 
•was  just  enlisted,  and  his  officers  were  strangers  to  him 
and  to  each  other,  set  sail,  on  the  first  of  June,  in  pursuit 
of  the  Shannon. 

23.  Towards  evening  of  the  same  day,  they  met,  and 
instantly  engaged,  with  unexampled  fury.     In  a  very  few 
minutes,  and  in  quick  succession,  the  sailing  master  of  the 
Chesapeake  was  killed,  captain  Lawrence  and  three  lieu 
tenants  were  severely  wounded,  her  rigging  was  so  cut  tc* 
pieces  that  she  fell  un  bcurd  the  Shannon,  her  cheat  cf 


ADMINISTRATION.  £<& 

arms  blew  up,  captain  Lawrence  received  a  second  and 
mortal  wound  and  was  carried  below ;  at  this  instant,  tho 
position  of  the  ships  being  favorable,  captain  Brook,  at  the 
head  of  his  marines,  gallantly  boarded  the  Chesapeake, 
when,  every  officer  who  could  take  command  being  killed 
or  wounded,  resistance  ceased,  and  the  American  flag  was 
struck  by  the  enemy. 

24.  That  fortune  favored  the  Shannon  cannot  be  doubted. 
That  the  event  would  have  been  the  same  had  fortune 
ikvored  neither,  is  rendered  probable  by  the  astonishing 
effect  of  her  fire.     This  unexpected  defeat  impelled  the 
Americans  to  seek  for  circumstances  consoling  to  their 
pride,  and  in  the  journals  of  the  day,  many  such  were 
stated  to  have  preceded  and   attended  the  action.     But 
nothing  could  allay  their  grief  at  the  fall  of  the  youthful 
and  intrepid  Lawrence.     His  previous  victory  and  mag 
nanimous  conduct  had  rendered  him  the  favorite  of  the 
nation,  and  he  was  lamented  with  sorrow,  deep,  sincere* 
and  lasting.     When  carried  below,  he  was  asked  if  tho 
colors  should  be  struck.     "  No,"  lie  replied,  "  they  shall 
wave  while  I  live."    When  the  fate  of  the  ship  was  de 
rided,  his  proud  spirit  was  broken.     He  became  delirious 
from  excess  of  mental  and  bodily  suffering.     Whenever 
able  to  speak,  he  would  exclaim,  "  Don't  give  up  the  ship  TT 
an  expression  consecrated  by  his  countrymen ;   and  he 
uttered  but  few  other  words  during  the  four  days  that  he 
survived  his  defeat. 

25.  This  victory  was  not  achieved  without  loss.     Oi' 
the  crew  of  the  Shannon,  twenty-four  were  killed  and 
fifty-six  wounded.     Of  that  of  the  Chesapeake,  forty- 
eight  were  killed  and  nearly  one  hundred  wounded.    Great 
was  tho  exultation  of  the  enemy.    Victories  over  the 
frigates  of  other  nations  were  occurrences  too  common  to 
excite  emotion ;  but  the  capture  of  an  American  frigato 
was  considered  a  glorious  epoch  in  the  naval  history  01' 
Great  Britain.     The  honors  and  rewards  bestowed  upon 
captain  Brook  were  such  as  had  never  before  been  received 
hut  by  the  conqueror  of  a  squadron.    These  demonstrations 
of  triumph  wore  inadvertent  confessions  of  American  su 
periority  ;  and  were,  to  the  vanquished  themselves,  sources 
of  triumph  and  consolation. 

26.  The  next  encounter  at  sea  was  between  the  Ame 
rican  brig  Argus  and  the  British  brig  Pelican.     The  latter 
was  of  superior  force,  and  was  victorious.     Soon  after, 
the  American  brig  Enterprise,  commanded  by  lieutenant 


2t>6  MADISON'S*  L'1813, 

•  t 

Burrows,  captured  the  British  brig  Boxer,  commanded  by 
captain  Blyth.  These  vessels  were  of  equal  force,  but 
the  greater  effect  of  the  fire  of  the  Enterprise  furnished 
to  the  Americans  another  proof  of  the  superior  skill  of 
their  seamen.  Both  commanders  were  killed  in  the  action, 
and  were  buried,  each  by  the  other's  side,  in  Portland. 

27.  The  events  of  the  war  again  call  our  attention  to 
the  northwestern  frontier.     While  each  nation  was  busily 
employed  in  equipping  a  squadron  on  Lake  Erie,  general 
Clay  remained  inactive  at  Fort  Meigs.     About  the  last  of 
Inly,  a  large  number  of  British  and  Indians  appeared  beforo 
the  fort,  hoping  to  entice  the  garrison  to  a  general  action 
iu  the  field.    After  waiting  a  few  days  without  succeeding, 
they  decamped,  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Stephenson,  on  the 
river  Sand*vsky.     This  fort  was  little  more  than  a  picket 
ing  surrounded  by  a  ditch;  and  the  garrison  consisted  of 
but  1GO  men,  vhq  were  commanded  by  major  Croghan, 
a,  youth  of  twenty-one.     On  the  first  of  August,  it  was 
invested  by  500  regulars  and  800  Indians. 

28.  After  a  cannona.de,  which  continued  two  days,  tho 
enemy,  in  the  evening,  supposing  a,  breach  had  been  made, 
advanced  to  assault  the  works.     Anticipating  this,  major 
Croghan  had  planted  a  six  pounder,  the  only  piece  of  can 
non  in  the  fort,  in  a  position  to  enfilade  the  ditch.     It  was 
loaded  with  grape-shot  and  slugs,  and  was  discharged  the 
instant  the  asailants  arrived  before  it.     The  British  com 
mander  and  many  of  his  men  were  killed,  and  many  others 
severely  wounded.     The  remainder  in  haste  and  disorder, 
retreated  to  their  former  position,  and  at  dawn  of  day 
retired  to  Maiden.    The  youthful  Croghan,  for  his  valor 
and  good  conduct,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel.    He  and  his  brave  companions  received  the  thanks 
of  congress ;  and  to  evince  their  respect  for  his  virtues,  the 
ladies  of  Chillicothe  presented  to  him  an  elegant  sword. 

29.  In  the  mean  time,  by  the  exertions  of  commodore 
Perry,  an  American  squadron  had  been  prepared  for  service 
on  Lake  Erie,    It  consisted  of  nine  small  vessels,  carry 
ing  in  all  fifty-four  guns.     A  British  squadron  had  also 
been   built  and  equipped,  under  the  superintendence  of 
commodore  Barclay.     It  consisted  of  six  vessels  mounting 
sixty-three  guns. 

30.  Commodore  Perry,  immediately  sailing,  offered  bnttlo 
to  his  adversary.     On  the  tenth  of  September,  the  British 
commander,  having  the  wind  in  his  favor,  left  the  harbor 
of  Maiden,  to  accept  the  offer.    In  a  few  hours,  the  wind 


1813.J  ADMINISTRATION.  267 

shifted,  giving  the  Americans  the  advantage.  Perry, 
forming  the  line  of  battle,  hoisted  his  flag,  on  which  were 
inscribed  the  words  of  the  dying  Lawrence,  "  Don't  give 
up  the  ship."  Loud  huzzas  from  all  the  vessels  proclaimed 
the  animation  with  which  this  motto  inspired  their  patri 
otic  crews. 

31.  About  noon,  the  firing  commenced ;  but  the  wind 
being  light,  the  Lawrence,  the  commodore's  flag-ship,  was 
the  only  American  vessel  that  could,  at  first,  engage  in 
close  action.     For  two  hours,  she  contended  alone  with 
two  vessels,  each  nearly  her  equal  in  force.     All  but  seven 
of  her  crew  were  either  killed  or  wounded,  and  she,  by 
the  damage  she  had  received,  was  rendered  wholly  un 
manageable.    The  wind  springing  up,  captain  Elliot  was  at 
length  enabled  to  bring  the  Niagara  into  action.     To  this 
ship,  commodore  Perry,  sailing  in  an  open  boat  through 
the  midst  of  the  fire,  transferred  his  flag.     Again  the  com 
bat  raged  with  undiminished  fury.     In  a  short  time,  one 
of  the  British  vessels  surrendered,  and  soon  after  another; 
and  the  rest  of  the  American  squadron  now  joining  in  the 
action,  the  victory  was  rendered  decisive  and  complete. 
At  four  o'clock,  the  brave  and  fortunate  commander  des 
patched  to  general  Harrison,  at  Fort  Meigs,  this  laconic 
epistle  :  "  We  have  met  the  enemy,  and  they  are  ours." 

32.  Great  was  the  joy  which  this  brilliant  victory  oc 
casioned  throughout  the  union.     That  it  was  achieved 
over  a  superior  force ;  that  it  was  the  first  ever  gained 
over  a  squadron;  that  it  was  entirely  decisive;  that  it 
opened  the  way  to  the  recovery  of  all  that  had  been  lost 
by  the  defeat  of  general  Hull, — were  circumstances  which 
threw  every  other  victory  into  the  shade,  and  cast  the 
brightest  lustre  upon  the  characters  of  the  heroes  who  had 
gained  it.     At  every  place  that  he  visited,  the  gallant 
Perry  received  the  most  flattering  proofs  of  a  nation's 
gratitude  and  love. 

33.  As  soon  as  general  Harrison,  who  had  been  joined 
by  governor  Shelby  with  a  large  body  of  Kentucky  militia, 
received  intelligence  of  this  victory,  he  hastened  to  the 
lake,  and  was  conveyed  by  the  vessels  to  Maiden.     The 
British  commander,  anticipating  this  movement,  had  aban 
doned  that  place,  which,  on  the  28th  of  September,  was 
occupied,  without  opposition,  by  the  American  army. 

34.  The  enemy,  passing  Detroit  in  their  retreat,  ascended 
vhe  river  Thames,  to  the  Moravian  villages.     They  were 
jwsi'pri  by  cronc-ml  H^rripor!,  an.'!,  on  the  5th  of  October, 


26»  ;MADISON?&  [IBIS, 

brought  to  action.  His  force  being  greatly  superior,  it 
complete  victory  was  easily  and  speedily  gained.  Six 
hundred,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  party,  were  made  priso 
ners  ;  Tecumseh,  the  celebrated  Indian  chief  was  killed; 
and  all  the  posts  that  had  been  surrendered  by  general  Hull 
•were  recovered  from  the  enemy. 

35.  Leaving  general  Cass  in  command  at  Detroit,  general 
Harrison,  with  part  of  the  regular  force,  again  embarked, 
on  board  the  vessels,  and,  on  the  24th,  arrived  at  Buffalo, 
in  New- York,  intending  to  join  the  American  army  on  the 
Niagara  frontier.     But  a  sufficient  number  of -general  offi 
cers  having  been  assigned  to  that  army,  he  received  per 
mission  to  return  to  his  family. 

36.  Previous  to  the  events  just  related,  general  Dear- 
horn,  in  consequence  of  severe  indisposition,  was  with 
drawn  from  active  service,  and  general  Wilkinson  appointed 
to  command  the  army  of  the   centre,   which  comprised 
about  7000  men.     Having  received  orders,  from  the  secre 
tary  of  war,  to  descend  the  St.  Lawrence  and  attack  Mon 
treal,  he  directed  the  scattered  detachments  to  assemble  at 
Grenadier-Island,  on  lake  Ontario.     Such  were  the  diffi 
culties  attending  the  concentration  of  the  troops,  and  such._ 
perhaps  the  want  of  vigor  in    the  commander,  that  the 
flotilla,  upon  which  they  embarked,  did  not  get  under  way 
until  the  5th  of  November. 

37.  Their  progress  was  impeded  by  parties  which  the 
enemy,  at  every  convenient  position,  had  stationed  on  the 
Canada  shore.     To  disperse  these,  a  body  of  troops,  un 
der  the  command  of  general   Brown,    was  landed,  and 
directed  to  march  in  advance  of  the  boats.     At  Chrystler's 
fields,  on  the  llth  of  November,  a  body  of  the  enemy,  of 
pqual  force,  was  encountered.     In  the  battle  which  ensued, 
both  fought  with  resolute  bravery,  and  both  claimed  the 
victory.     The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  greatest,  but 
they  drove  the  enemy  from  their  position,  and  enabled  the 
flotilla  to  pass  unmolested. 

38.  The  next  day  it  arrived  at  St.  Regis.     At  this  place, 
general  Hampton,  who  commanded  the  troops  at  Platts- 

,  burg,  had  been  ordered  to  meet  the  main  army,  and  no 
doubt  had  been  entertained  of  his  disposition  and  ability 
to  comply  with  the  order.  But  here  general  Wilkinson, 
to  his  surprise  and  mortification,  was  informed  that  the 
contemplated  junction  would  not  take  place.  The  project 
of  attacking  Montreal  was  abandoned,  and  the  army  un 
der  Wilkinson,  marching  to  French  Mill",  there  encamped 


1313.]  ADMINISTRATION.  £09 

39.  This  abortive   issue    of  the  campaign  occasioned 
murmurs  throughout  the  nation.     The  causes  which  led 
to  it  have  never 'been  fully  developed.     The  severest  cen 
sure  fell  upon  general  Armstrong,  who  was  secretary  of 
war,  and  upon  general  Hampton.     The  latter  soon  after 
resigned  his  commission  in  the  army,  and  general  Izard 
was  selected  to  command  the  post  at  Plattsburg. 

40.  In  the  progress  of  our  narrative,  some  events  have 
been  passed  over,  which  will   now  be   related.     In  the 
early  part  of  this  year,  the  emperor  of  Russia  offered  his 
mediation  to  the  two  powers  at  war.     On  the  part  of  the 
United  States,  the  offer  was  promptly  accepted,  and  Messrs. 
Adams,  Gallatin,  and  Bayard,  were    appointed  commis 
sioners  to  negotiate,  at  St.  Petersburg,  a  peace  under  the 
proffered  mediation. 

41.  On  the  24th  of  May,  c egress  was  convened  by 
proclamation  of  the  president.     .Laws  were  enacted  impo 
sing  a  direct  tax  of  three  millions  of  dollars ;  authorising 
the  collection  of  various  internal  duties  ;  providing  for  a 
loan  of  seven  arid  a  half  million  of  dollars ;  and  prohibiting 
the  merchant  vessels  of  the  United  States  from  sailing 
under  British  licenses.    Near  the  close  of  the  session,  a 
committee,  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  subject,  made  :i 
long  report  upon  the  spirit  and  manner  in  which  the  war 
had  been  conducted  by  the  enemy.  Many  proofs  were  pre 
sented  of  shameful  departures  from  the  rules  of  warfare 
observed  by  civilized  nations. 

42.  In  September,  commodore  Chauncey  made  two  crui 
ses  upon  lake  Ontario,  and  repeatedly  offered  battle  to  the 
enemy's  squadron,  which  was  superior  in  force  ;  but  Sir 
Jarnes  Yeo,  the  British  commander,  intimidated  by  the 
result  of  the  battle  on  lake  Erie,  retired  before  him.     On 
one  occasion,  however,  in  a  running  fight,  his  ships  sus 
tained  considerable  injury. 

43.  In  the  same  month,  captain  Rogers,  who  commanded 
the  frigate  President,  returned  from  a  long  cruu?0,  having 
captured  eleven  merchantmen  ;  but  he  met  no  armed  ves- 
vels,  the  capture  of  which  could  enhance  his  reputation. 
Captain  Porter,  in  the  Essex  rode  triumphant,  in  the  Pa 
cific  ocean,  annoying  the  trade  of  the  enemy  and  protecting 
that  of  the  republic. 

44.  The  Indians  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  union 
had  imbibed  the  same  hostile  spirit  as  those  at  the  North 
western.     They  had  been  visited  by  Tecumseh,  and,  by 
his  eloquence,  persuaded,  that  the  great  Spirit  required 


.e;a  MADISON'^ 

them  to  unite  and  attempt  the  extirpation  of  the  whites, 
and  had  promised  them  victory  as  the  reward  of  their  ex- 
ortions.  In  the  fall -t)f  1812,  a  cruel  Avar  was  carried  on, 
by  the  Creeks  and  Seminoles,  against  the  frontier  inhabit 
ants  of  Georgia.  General  Jackson  at  the  head  of  2500 
volunteers  from  Tennessee,  marched  into  the  country  of 
the  Indians.  They,  overawed  by  his  presence,  desisted 
for  a  time  from  hostility ;  but,  after  his  ret  urn,  their  ani 
mosity  burst  forth  with  increased  and  fatal  violence. 

45.  Dreading  their  cruelty,  about  three  Jiundred  men, 
women,  and  children  sought  safety  in  Fort  Mimms,  in  the 
Tensaw  settlement.     Although  frequent  warnings  of  an 
intended  attack  had  been  given  them,  yet,  at  noonday,  on 
the  30th  of  August,  they  were  surprised  by  a  party  of  six 
hundred  Indians,  who  with  axes  cut  their  way  into  the 
fort,  and  drove  the  people  into  the  houses  which  it  enclosed. 
To  these  they  set  fire.     Many  persons  were  burned,  and 
many  killed  by  the  tomahawk.     Only  seventeen  escaped 
i.o  carry  the  horrid  tidings  to  the  neighboring  stations. 

46.  The  whites  resolved  on  vengeance.     Again  general 
Jackson,  at  the  head  of  3500  militia  of  Tennessee. marched 
into  the  southern  wilderness.  "  A  detachment  under  general 
Coffee,  encountering,  at  Tallushatchie,  a  body  of  Indians, 
a,  sanguinary  conflict  ensued.      The  latter  fought  with, 
desperation,  neither  giving  nor  receiving  quarter,  until 
nearly  every  warrior  had  perished. 

47.  At  Talladega,  another  battle  was  fought,  in  which 
three  hundred  Indians  perished.     The  rest  of  the  party, 
exceeding  seven  hundred,  fled.     General  Jackson's  pro 
visions  being  exhausted,  he  was  unable  to  pursue, them. 
While  on  his  return  to  the  settlements,  to  obtain  a  supply, 
liis  troops  became  refractory  and  even  mutinous.     Nearly 
ull  returned  to  their  homes;  but  to  the  small  number  that, 
remained  were  soon  added  a  reinforcement  of  one  thousand 
mounted  volunteers. 

48.  At  the  head  of  this  force,  he  marched  to  Emuckfaw, 
within  a  bend  of  the  Tallapoosn,  where  a  body  of  the 
enemy  were  posted.     To  several  skirmishes  succeeded  :i 
general  battle,  in  which  the  whites  were  victorious,  but 
sustained  considerable  loss.   For  the  relief  of  the  wounded, 
Jackson  returned  to  Fort  Strother,  where  the  volunteers 
were  discharged.     General  White  from  East  Tennessee, 
and  general  Floyd  from  Georgia,  led  separate  expeditions 
against  th«  Indians-  and  vr?re  victorious  in  even*  combat. 


18137]  ADMlKlSTBATIOi  271 

So  enraged  were  the  savages,  that  but  few  would  accept 
of  quarter  or  seek  safety  in  retreat. 

49.  Yet  still  was  the  spirit  of  the  Creeks  unsubdued, 
and  their  faith  in  victory  unshaken.  With  no  little  sa 
gacity  and  skill,  they  selected  and  fortified  another  position 
on  the  Tallapoosa,  called  by  themselves  Tohopeka,  and 
by  the  whites,  Horse-shoe  Bend.  Here  nearly  a  thousand 
warriors,  animated  with  a  fierce  and  determined  resolution, 
were  collected.  Three  thousand  men,  commanded  by 
general  Jackson,  marched  to  attack  this  post.  To  prevent 
escape,  a  detachment,  under  general  Coffee,  encircled  the 
Bend.  The  main  body,  keeping  within  it,  advanced  to  the 
fortress.  For  a  few  minutes,  the  opposing  forces  were 
engaged,  muzzle  to  muzzle,  at  the  port  holes.  Soon  the 
troops,  leaping  over  the  walls,  mingled  with  the  savages. 
The  combat  was  furious  and  sanguinary.  The  Indians, 
'.fleeing  at  length  to  the  river,  beheld  the  troops  on  tho 
opposite  bank.  Returning,  they  fought  with  increased 
fury  and  desperation,  and  continued  to  resist  until  night, 
six  hundred  warriors  were  killed  ;  four  only  yielded  them 
selves  prisoners ;  the  remaining  three  hundred  escaped. 
Of  the  whites,  fifty-five  were  killed,  and  one  hundred  and 
forty-six  wounded. 

HO.  It  was  expected  that  another  stand  would  be  madf  7 
by  the  Indians,  at  a  place  called  the  Hickory-ground. 
General  Jackson  marched  thither  in  April.  The  principal 
chiefs  came  out  to  meet  him,  and  among  them  was  Wether- 
ford,  a  half  blood,  distinguished  equally  for  his  talents  and 
cruelty.  "I  am  in  your  power,"  said  he,  "do  with  me 
what  you  please.  I  commanded  at  Fort  Mimms.  I  have 
done  the  white  people  all  the  harm  I  could.  I  have  fought 
them,  and  fought  them  bravely.  There  was  a  time  when 
I  had  a  choice ;  I  have  none  now,  even  hope  is  ended. 
Once  I  could  animate  my  warriors ;  but  I  cannot  animate 
the  dead.  Theycun  no  longer  hear  my  voice;  their  bones 
are  at  Tallushatchie,  Talladega,  Emuckfaw,  and  Tohopeka. 
While  there  was  a  chance  of  success,  I  never  supplicated 
peace ;  but  my  people  are  gone,  and  I  now  ask  it  for  my 
nation  and  myself."  Peace  was  concluded,  and  the  brave 
general  Jackson  and  his  troops  enjoyed  an  honorable  but 
short  repose. 


CHAPTER  XXV ill. 
CAMPAIGN  OF  1814. 

CONCLUSION  OF  THE  WAR. 

IN  the  winter  of  1813-14,  the  fifteenth  congress  held  a 
second  session.  To  increase  the  number,  and  to  add  to 
the  efficiency  of  the  army,  several  laws  were  passed,  by 
one  of  which  the  enormous  bounty  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-foar  dollars  was  offered  to  recruits.  The  president 
was  authorised  to  borrow  twenty-five  millions  of  dollars, 
and  to  issue  treasury  notes  to  the  amount  of  five  millions. 

2.  Before  the  termination  of  the  session,  a  communication 
was  received  from  the  British  government,  declining  to 
treat  under  the  mediation  of  Russia,  and  proposing  a  direct 
negotiation  at  London  or  Gottenburgh.  The  proposition 
was  accepted  by  the  American  government,  who  chose 
Gottenburgh  as  the  place  of  meeting,  for  which  Ghent  was. 
afterwards  substituted ;  and  Henry  Clay  and  Jonathan 
Russell,  were  joined  with  the  commissioners  already  in 
Euj-ope.  Mr.  Clay,  in  consequence,  relinquished  the  sta 
tion  of  speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Langdon  Cheves,  of  South-Carolina. 
^  3.  Early  in  the  spring,  the  American  army  marched  from 
French-Mills  ;  a  part  of  the  troops,  under  the  command  of 
general  Wilkinson,  proceeding  to  Pittsburgh,  and  the 
remainder,  under  general  Brown,  returning  to  Sackett's 
Harbor.  Near  the  last  of  March,  general  Wilkinson 
penetrated  into  Canada,  and  attacked  a  body  of  the  enemy, 
occupying  a  large  stone  mill,  on  the  river  La  Cole.  He 
was  repulsed  with  considerable  loss.  This  defeat  de 
tracted  from  his  already  diminished  reputation.  He  was 
removed  from  command,  and  general  Izard  appointed  to 
succeed  him. 

4.  For  three  months,  the  armies  of  both  nations  con 
tinued  inactive.  Meanwhile  information  was  received  of 
the  stupendous  events  which  had  recently  occurred  in 
Europe.  The  emperor  of  France,  having  been  arrested 
in  his  victorious  career  and  sustained  defeat  after  defeat, 
was  compelled  to  abdicate  his  throne,  and  retire  to  the 
island  of  Elba.  Louis  the  XVIII  was  proclaimed  king ; 
and  Great  Britain,  at  peace  with  all  the  world  but  the 
TTnited  8tgtes.  was  enabled  to  direct  against  them  alone* 


W14.]  ADMINISTRATION 

the  immense  force  which  had  been  employed  to  crush 
her  rival.  She  delayed  not  to  use  the  advantages  af 
forded  by  her  good  fortune.  From  the  ports  of  conquered 
France,  ships  of  war  and  transports  bearing  veteran  and 
victorious  troops,  sailed  to  the  American  continent,  some 
destined  to  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  some  to  the  Atlantic 
coast. 

5.  These  events  could  not  be  viewed  with  indifference 
by  the  American  people.    The  friends  of  the  administration 
anticipated  a  severer  conflict,  and  prepared  for  greater 
sacrifices  and  greater  sufferings.     Its  opposers  were  en 
couraged  to  make  more  vigorous  efforts  to  wrest  the  reins 
of  authority  from  men  who,  they  asserted,  had  shown 
themselves  incompetent  to  hold  them.    These  efforts, 
although  condemned  by  a  great  majority  of  the  people,  di 
minished  in  no  slight  degree,  the  strength  of  the  republic. 

6.  In  the  beginning  of  July,  general  Brown,  who  had 
been   assiduously  employed   in  disciplining   his   troops, 
crossed  the  Niagara  with  about  3000  men,  and  took  pos 
session,  without  opposition,  of  Fort   Erie.     In  a  strong 
position,  at  Chippewa,  a  few  miles  distant,  was  intrenched 
an  equal  number  of  British  troops  commanded  by  general 
Itiall.    On  the  4th,  general  Brown  approached  their  works. 
The  next  day,  the  two  armies  met  in  the  open  field.     The 
conflict  was  obstinate  and  bloody.     The  Americans  were 
victorious ;  and  the  enemy,  having  sustained  the  loss  of 
five  hundred  men,  sought  safety  behind  their  intrenchments. 

7.  This  decisive  victory,  achieved  after  so  many  reverses, 
was  hailed  as  an  omen  of  future  success.   Soon  afterwards, 
general  Rial],  abandoning  his  works,  retired  to  the  heights 
of  Burlington.     Here  lieutenant-general  Drummond,  with 
a  large  reinforcement,  joined  him,  and  assuming  the  com 
mand,  led  back  the  army  towards  ihe  American  camp. 
On  the  25th,  was  fought  the  battle  6f  Bridgewater,  which 
began  before  sunset  and  continued  until  midnight. 

8.  This  battle  was  fought  near  the  cataract  of  Niagara, 
whose  roar  was  silenced  by  the  thunder  of  cannon  and  the 
din  of  arms,  but  was  distinctly  heard  during  the  pauses  of 
1  he  fight.    At  intervals  the  moon  shone  brightly,  but  often 
her  light  was  obscured.     Against  a  superior  force,  the 
Americans,  for  several  hours,  contended  with  various  suc 
cess.    During  the  first  part  of  the  engagement,  they  were 
sorely  annoyed,  into  whatever  part  of  the  field  they  might 
drive  the  enemy  or  be  driven,  by  the   British  artillery, 
i-tatjonpd  on  n  command  in  g"erninence.    "Can  you  stonu 


«J74  MADISON'S  [1814, 

that  battery  ?"  said  general  Ripley  to  colonel  Miller.  "  I'll 
iry,  sir,"  was  the  laconic  answer.  At  the  word  of  com 
mand  his  men,  with  steady  courage,  ascended  the  hill, 
advanced  to  the  muzzles  of  the  cannon,  killed  with  the 
bayonet  several  artillery-men,  on  the  point  of  firing  their 
pieces,  and  drove  the  remainder  before  them. 

9.  Both  parties  were  instantly  reinforced,  and  the  enemy 
made  a  daring  effort  to  regain  their  cannon.     They  were 
repulsed,  but  quickly  repeated  the  attempt.     Nearly  all 
the  opposing  forces  gathered  around  this  position,  and  to 
possess  it  was  the  sole  object  of  both  armies.    Again  the 
enemy  were  repulsed ;  but  again  they  renewed  the  effort. 
After  a  violent  conflict,  they  were  a  third  time  driven 
from  the  hill.     The  firing  then  ceased ;  the  British  troops 
were  withdrawn ;  and  the  Americans  were  left  in  quiet 
possession  of  the  field. 

10.  Generals  Brown  and  Scott  having  both  been  severely 
wounded,  the  command  devolved  upon  general  Ripley. 
He  remained  a  few  hours  upon  the  hill,  collected  the 
ivounded,  and  then  returned  unmolested  to  the  camp. 
The  number  of  the  killed  and  wounded  proves  the  bravery 
of  the  combatants,  and  the  severity  of  the  conflict.     On 
the  American  side  it  was  743  ;  on  the  British,  one  hundred 
less ;  and  of  the  latter  117  more  were  missing  than  of  the 
former.     The  British,  therefore,  besides  losing  their  posi 
tion,  sustained  the  greater  loss  of  men. 

11.  General  Ripley  found  his  force  so  much  weakened, 
that  he  deemed  it  prudent  again  to  occupy  Fort  Erie.     On 
the  4th  of  August,  it  was  invested  by  general  Drummond 
with  5000  troops.     In  defending  it,  no  less  bravery  and 
skill  were  requisite,  and  no  less  were  displayed,  than  in 
contending  in  the  field.     In  the  night  between  the  14th 
and  15th,  the  besie|ers  made  an  assault  upon  the  fort, 
which   was   repelled  with  conspicuous   gallantry  by  the 
garrison,  the  former  losing  more  than  nine  hundred  men, 
the  latter  but  eighty-four. 

12.  The  siege  was  still  continued.     On  the  2d  of  Sep 
tember,  general  Brown,  having  recovered  from  his  wounds, 
threw  himself  into  the  fort  and  took  command  of  the  gar 
rison.     For  their  fate,  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  the  nation, 
which  was,  however,  in  some  degree,  removed  by  the 
march  from  Plattsburgh  of  five  thousand  men  to  their 
relief.     On  the  17th,  a  sortie  was  made  by  the  besieged, 
general  Porter  of  the  New- York  militia,  and  general  Miller 
.«jf  .the  regular  army,  commanding  divisions.     The  bravery 


1814.]  ADMIN  ISTRATIOX.  2T5 

of  the  troops  equalled  that  which  they  had  displayed  in  the 
recent  contests.  After  an  hour  of  close  fighting,  they 
returned  to  the  fort,  having  killed,  wounded,  and  taken 
one  thousand  of  the  enemy.  Their  loss  was  severe, 
amounting  to  more  than  five  hundred. 

13.  On  the  21st  of  September,  the  forty-ninth  day  of 
the  siege,  general  Drummond  withdrew  his  forces,  relieving 
the  garrison  from  their  toil,  which  had  been  incessant,  and 
from  their  danger,  \vhich  had  been  encountered  without 
fear.     Seldom  have  troops  deserved  higher  praise  of  their 
country.     On  the  9th  of  October,  general  Izard  arrived 
with  the  reinforcement  from  Plattsburgh,  and  being  senior 
officer,  took  the  command.     On  the  18th,  he  marched, 
with  his  whole  force,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  whom  he 
found  at  Chippewa,  strongly  posted  in  a  fortified  camp. 
After  making  several  unsuccessful  attempts  to  entice  them, 
into  the  field,  he  evacuated  Canada,  and  placed  his  troops 
in  winter  quarters  at  Buffalo,  Blackrock,  and  Batavia. 

14.  The  march  of  the  troops  from  Plattsburgh  having 
left  that  post  almost  defenceless,  the  enemy  determined  to 
attack  it  by  land,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  attempt  the 
destruction  of  the  American  flotilla  on  Lake  Champlain. 
On  the  3d  of  September,  Sir  George  Prevost,  the  governor- 
general  of  Canada,  with  an  army  of  14,000  men,  most  <>i' 
whom  had  served  in  the  wars  of  Europe,  entered  the  ter 
ritories  of  the  United  States.     As  soon  as  his  object  was 
ascertained,  brigadier-general  Macomb,  the  commander  at 
Plattsburgh,  called  to  his  aid  the  militia  of  New- York  and 
Vermont,  who,  with  alacrity  and  without  distinction,  of 
party,  obeyed  the  call. 

15.  On  the  Gth,  the  enemy  arrived  at  Plattsburgh,  which 
is  situated  near  Lake  Charnplain,  on  the  northerly  bank  of 
the  small  river  Saranac.     On  their  approach,  the  American 
troops,  who  were  posted  on  the  opposite  bank,  tore  up  the 
planks  of  the  bridges,  with  which  they  formed  slight 
breastworks,  and  prepared  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the 
stream.     Several  attempts  to  cross  it  were  made  by  the 
enemy,  but  they  were  uniformly  defeated.     From  this  time, 
until  the  llth,  the  British  army  were  employed  in  erecting 
batteries,  while  the  American  forces  were  every  hour  aug 
mented  by  the  arrival  of  volunteers  and  militia. 

16.  Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  the  British  squad 
ron,  commanded  by  commodore  Downie,  appeared  off  the 
harbor  of  Plattsburgh,  where  that  of  the  United  States, 
commanded  by  commodore  McDonough,  lay  at  anchor 


prepared  for  battle.  The  former  carried  ninety-five  guns, 
and  .was  manned  with  upwards  of  1000  men,  the  latter 
carried  eighty-six  guns,  and  was  manned  with  820  men. 

17.  At  nine  o'clock  the  battle  commenced.     Seldom 
has  the  ocean  witnessed  a  more  furious  encounter  than 
now  took  place  on  the  bosom  of  this  transparent   and 
peaceful  lake.     At  the  same  moment,  the  enemy  on  land 
began  a  heavy  cannonade  upon  the  American  lines,  and 
attempted,  at  different  places,  to  cross  the  Saranac.    At 
a  ford  above  the  village  the  strife  was  hot  and  deadly.    As 
often  as  the  enemy  advanced  into  the  water,  they  received 
a  destructive  fire  from  the  militia,  and  their  dead  bodies 
floated' down  the  stream  literally  crimsoned  with  blood. 

18.  At  half  past  eleven,  the  shout  of  victory,  heart] 
along  the  American  lines,  announced  the  result  of  tho 
battle  on  the  lake.     A  second  British  squadron  had  yielded 
to  the  prowess  of  American  seamen.     The  cry  animated 
t  o  braver  deeds  their  brethren  on  the  land.    Fainter  became 
the  efforts  of  the  enemy.     In  the  afternoon,  they  withdrew 
to  their  intrenchments.     In  the  night,  they  began  a  pre 
cipitate  retreat,  and  had  fled  eight  miles  before  their  de 
parture  was  known  in  the  American  camp. 

19.  Upon  the  lake,  the  American  loss  was  110;  tho 
British   194,  besides  prisoners.     On  land,  the  American 
loss  was  119  ;  that  of  the  Britisli  was  estimated  at  2500, 
In  the  latter  number,  however,  were  included  more  than 
five  hundred  British  soldiers,  who,  preferring  America  to 
their  native  country,  deserted  from  the  retreating  army. 
"With  these  splendid  victories  closed  the  campaign  on  the 
northern  frontier. 

20.  On  the  ocean,  tho  republican  flag  maintained  its 
high  reputation.     Victory  was  not  always  won  ;  but  defeat 
never  occurred  attended  with  dishonor.     The  Essex,  com 
manded  by  captain  Porter,  after  a  blood}'  combat  protracfen 
longer  than  was  necessary  to  vindicate  his  fame,  struck 
to  a  British  frigate  and  sloop  of  war,  whose  united  forci; 
was  much  superior.     The  American  sloop  Peacock  cap 
tured  the  Epervier  of  equal  force.     The  sloop  Wasp, 
commanded  by  captain  Biakely,  captured  the  Reindeer, 
and  afterwards,  in  the  same  cruise,  sunk  the  Avon,  each 
of  superior  force.     She  made  several  other  prizes  ;  but 
never  returned  into  port.     Darkness  rests  upon  her  fate. 
She  probably  foundered  at  sea.     The  republic,  with  deep 
and  sincere  grief,  mourned  the  loss  of  her  gallant  crew. 

21.  The  people  of  the  middle  and  southern  states,  an- 


18H.J  ADMINISTRATION".  277 

iieipating  a  great*  augmentation  of  the  enemy's  force,  and 
uncertain  where  the  blow  would  fall,  made  exertions  to 
place  every  exposed  position  in  a  posture  of  defence. 
The  citizens  of  New- York  displayed  extraordinary  activity 
and  zeal.  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  were  supposed  to 
foe  in  less  danger,  but  additions  wrere  made  to  their  fortifi 
cations.  For  the  protection  of  Washington,  a  military 
district,  embracing  Maryland,  Columbia,  and  a  part  of 
Virginia,  was  established,  and  the  command  of  it  given  to 
general  Winder,  of  Baltimore.  One  thousand  regular 
troops  were  placed  at  his  disposal,  and  he  was  authorized 
to  call  to  his  aid  15,000  militia. 

22.  In  the  beginning  of  August,  the  expected  reinforce 
ments,  consisting  of  many  vessels  of  war,  and  a  largo 
number  of  troops,  arrived  in  the  Chesapeake  from  Europe. 
Of  this  force  several  frigates  and  bomb  vessels  were  ordered 
to  ascend  the  Potomac ;  another  division,  under  Sir  Peter 
Parker,  was  directed  to  threaten  Baltimore ;  the  main  body 
ascended  the  Patuxent  as  far  as  Benedict,  where,  on  the 
1 9th  of  August,  five  thousand  men,  commanded  by  general 
lloss,  were  landed. 

23.  In  the  mean  time,  general  Winder  had  called  on  the 
militia  to  repair  to  his  standard.     They  were  exceedingly 
remiss  in  obeying  the  call.     On  the  22d,  riot  more  than 
two  thousand  had  assembled.     At  the  head  of  these,  and 
of  one  thousand  regulars,  he  took  a  position  not  far  from 
the  enemy,  intending  to  prevent  their  progress  into  tha 
country. 

24.  A  particular  account  of  the  subsequent  events  will 
not  be  attempted.     General  Ross,  marching  through   a 
scattered  population,  advanced  towards  Washington.    The 
Americans  retired  before  him.     A  stand  was  made  near 
Bladensburgh.    The  militia  fled  on  the  approach  of  danger; 
but  a  body  of  seamen  and  marines,  commanded  by  com 
modore  Barney,  not  only  maintained  their  ground,  but 
compelled  the  enemy  to  give  way.     They  rallied,  however, 
immediately;  outflanked  the  heroic  band,  put  it  to  flight, 
und  hastened  forward. 

25.  The  retreating  ibrces  were  ordered  to  assemble  on 
the  heights  near  the  capitol ;  and  their  they  were  joined 
by  a  body  of  Virginia  militia.     But  general  Winder,  con 
sidering  his  force  too  weak  to  oppose  effectual  resistance, 
retreated  to  the  heights  of  Georgetown.   Washington,  thus 
,'eft  defenceless,  was  deserted  by  most  of  the  citizens. 

• '•-  On  tiro  2-lt.h,  at  ei cat  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the 
v 


a?'S  MADlSOxYS  [Id  14. 

enemy  entered  the  city,  and  at  nine,  the  cKpilol,  president's 
house,  and  many  other  buildings,  were  set  on  fire.  Valu 
able  libraries,  works  of  taste,  and  elegant  specimens  of 
the  fine  arts,  were  consigned  to  destruction.  On  the 
evening  of  the  next  day,  the  enemy  left  the  city,  and  re 
turned  unmolested  to  Benedict ;  where,  on  the  30thy  they 
embarked  on  board  the  transports.  Their  loss,  during  the 
incursion,  including  deserters,  and  such  as  died  from  fatigue 
on  the  march,  exceeded  eight  hundred. 

27.  The  capture  of  Washington  reflected  disgrace  upon 
those  by  whom  it  ought  to  have  been  defended.     The  des 
truction  of  the  national  edifices  attached  a  still  darker 
stigma  to  the  character  of  the  enemy.    The  whole  civilized 
world  exclaimed  against  the  act  as  a  violation  of  the  rules 
of  modern  warfare.     The  capitals  of  most  of  the  European 
kingdoms  had  lately  been  in  the  power  of  an  enemy ;  but 
in  no  instance  had  the  conqueror  been  guilty  of  similar 
conduct.     An  indignant  spirit  pervaded  the  republic.    Tin; 
friends  of  the  government  were  not  only  increased  in 
number,  but  felt  an  additional  motive  to  exert  all  their 
faculties  to  overcome  the  enemy  of  their  country. 

28.  The  squadron  which,  at  the  same  time,  ascended 
the  Potomac,  met  with  even  less  resistance  than  thin 
which  ascended  the  Patuxent.     As  soon  as  it  arrived  at 
Alexandria,  the  citizens  proposed  a  capitulation ;  and  the 
terms  were  speedily  adjusted  with  the  British  commander. 
To  purchase  safety,  they  delivered  up  all  their  shipping ; 
all  the  merchandize  in  the  city,  and  all  the  naval  and  ord 
nance  stores  public  and  private.     With  a  fleet  of  prizes, 
loaded  with  a  rich  booty,  the  enemy  returned  immediately 
to  the  ocean. 

29.  The  success  of  the  attack  on  Washington  encouraged 
general  Ross  to  undertake  an  expedition  against  Baltimore. 
On  the  12th  of  September,  he  landed  5000  men  on  North 
Point,  about  fourteen  miles  from  the  city,  to  which  he 
directed  his  march.     Preparations  for  defence  had  already- 
been  made.     The  whole  of  the  militia  had  been  called 
into  the  field ;   the  aged  and  the  rich  had  voluntarily 
entered  the  ranks  ;  and  assistance  had  been  obtained  from 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 

30.  General   Smith,  who  commanded   the  American 
forces,  detached  general  Striker,  with  three  thousand  men, 
to  retard  the  progress  of  the  enemy.     The  advanced  parties 
met  about  eight  miles  from  the  city.      In  the  skirmish 
which  ensued  general  Ross  was  killed.    The  invader*, 


1*14.]  ADMINISTRATION.  SKd 

Ihowever,  under  the  command  of  colonel  Brooke,  continued 
to  advance,  and  soon  met  and  attacked  the  detachment 
under  Striker.  One  of  the  militia  regiments  gave  way. 
This  communicated  a  panic  to  the  others,  and  the  general 
fell  back  to  the  heights,  where,  behind  breastworks  hastily 
erected,  the  main  body  of  the  Americans  awaited  an  attack. 

31.  After  landing  the  troops  at  North  Point,  the  British 
fleet  had  sailed  up  the  Petapsco  and  bombarded  Fort 
McIIenry  and  Fort  Covington,  which  stand  at  the  entrance 
into  the  harbor.     The  |prmer  was  commanded  by  major 
Annistead,  the  latter  by  lieutenant  Newcomb,  of  the  navy. 
Both  were  gallantly  defended,  the  fleet  was  repulsed,  and 
the  commander  -of  the  troops,  finding  that  the  naval  force 
could  afford  no  farther  assistance,  retreated,  on  the  14th, 
to  North  Point,  and  the  next  day  re-embarked.     Soon 
after,  the  fleet  left  Chesapeake  bay,  and  part  proceeded 
southward  to  convey  the  troops  to  the  theatre  of  future 
operations  and  of  unprecedented  slaughter. 

32.  In  the  New-England  states,  a  majority  of  the  people 
were,  from  the  first,  opposed  to  the  war ;  and  as  it  restrained 
them  from  their  most  profitable  pursuits ;  commerce  and 
the  fishieries,  their  dissatisfaction  continued  to  increase. 
They  complained  that  their  peculiar  interests  were  disre 
garded,  and  that  the  government,  employing  elsewhere  the 
resources  drawn  from  New-England,  did  not  afford  them 
that  protection  to  which,  as  a  part  of  the  nation,  they  were 
entitled.     The  most  zealous  therefore  recommended  that, 
not  only  the  militia  but  the  revenue  should  be  retained  at 
home  and  employed  for  their  own  defence  and  protection. 

33.  The  general  court  of  Massachusetts  proposed  that 
a  convention  of  delegates,  from  the  New-England  states, 
should  assemble  at  Hartford  to  devise  means  to  obtain 
redress  of  their  grievances.     To  this  proposition  Con 
necticut  and  Rhode  Island  acceded.     In  December  the 
convention  met,  consisting  of  delegates  from  those  states, 
appointed  by  their  legislatures ;  of  two  from  New-Hamp 
shire,  and  one  from  Vermont,  appointed  at  county  meetings. 
Their  sittings  were  secret.     Upon  their  adjournment,  they 
published  an  address  to  the  people,  in  which,  in  bold  and 
forcible  language,  they  enumerated  the  measures  of  the 
national  government,  supposed  to  be  particularly  detri 
mental  to  the  interests  of  New-England,  and  of  the  com 
mercial  class  of  the  nation,  and  proposed  such  amendments 
to  the  constitution  as  would  proypnt..  in  future* the  adoption 
of  similar 


[1811. 

34.  In  the  fall,  information  was  received  that  the  Ame 
rican  and  British  commissioners  had  met  and  held  con 
ferences  at  Ghent.     Great  Britain,  rendered  arrogant  hy 
her  recent  triumphs  in  Europe,  hy  the  capture  of  Wash 
ington,  and  by  the  boldness  of  the  opposition,  demanded 
terms  which  extinguished  the  hope  of  a  speedy  reconcili 
ation.     Congress  shrunk  not  from  the  duty  which  the 
crisis  imposed.     Although  the  expenditures  of  the  nation 
greatly  exceeded  the  income  ;   although  its  finances  were 
in  disorder,  and  its  credit  was  inpaired,  yet  the  national 
legislature,  with  undaunted  firmness,  entered  upon  the  task 
of  furnishing  the  means  to  prosecute  the  war  with  increased 
vigor.     The  taxes  were  augmented,  and  new  Igans  were 
authorized.     The  duties  of  secretary  at  war,  from  which 
post  general  Armstrong  was  removed,  were  assigned  to  Mr. 
•Monroe,  the  secretary  of  state,  and  Mr.  Dallas  of  Penn 
sylvania,  was  appointed  secretary  of  the  treasury. 

35.  The  repose  of  general  Jackson,  and  of  the  troops 
whom  he  commanded,  was  interrupted  by  the  arrival  at 
1'ensacola,  in  August,  of  three  British  ships  of  war,  bring 
ing  three  hundred  soldiers,  and  arms  and  ammunition  to 
be  distributed  among  the  Indians  of  Florida.     The  troops 
were  permitted,  by  the  Spaniards,  to  take  possession  of 
the  fort,  and  the  commander  issued  a  proclamation,  indi 
cating  an  intention  of  carrying  on  war  against  the  adjacent 
parts  of  the  republic. 

36.  General  Jackson,  with  characteristic  promptness, 
look  instant  and  efficient  measures  for  calling  to  his  aid 
the  patriotic  militia,  who  had  before  been  victorious  under 
his  banners.     And  having  remonstrated  in  vain  with  the 
governor  of  Pensacola,  for  affording  shelter  and  protection 
to  the  enemies  of  the  United  States,  he,  near  the  end  of 
October,  at  the  head  of  a  body  of  regulars  and  two  thousand 
mounted  volunteers,  marched  against  that  place.     A  flag, 
sent  to  demand  redress,  was  fired  on  from  the  batteries. 
He  immediately  marched  into  the  city,  stormed  the  fort, 
obtained  entire  possession,  and  compelled  the  British  to 
evacuate  Florida. 

37.  Returning  to  his  head-quarters  at  Mobile,  he  there 
received  intelligence  that  a  powerful  expedition  was  on 
the  way  to   attack   New-Orleans.      Without   delay,  he 
inarched  writh  his  troops,  to  that  city.     He  found  it  in  a 
state  of  confusion  and  alarm.     The  militia,  composed  of 
men  of  all  nations,  was  imperfectly  organized.     Many, 

ling  DO  attaeh.rnept  to  the  republic,  had  refused  to  er-t^r 


W14.'J  ADMINISTRATION ,  M. 

the  ranks.  No  fortifications  existed  on  the  various  routes 
by  which  the  place  could  be  approached ;  and  fears  were 
entertained  that  the  reinforcements  of  militia,  which  were 
expected  from  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  could  not  arrive 
in  time  to  take  part  in  the  contest. 

38.  Undismayed  by  the  difficulties  which  surrounded 
him,  general  Jackson  adopted  the  most  decided  and  efficient 
means  for  the  safety  of  this  rich  and  important  city.     He 
visited  in  person  every  exposed  point,  and  designated  the 
positions  to  be  fortified.     He  mingled  with  the  citizens 
and  infused  into  the  greater  part  his  own  spirit  and  energy* 
By  his  presence  and  exhortations,  they  were  animated  to 
exertions  of  which  before  they  were  not  supposed  to  be 
capable.     All  who  could  wield  a  spade,  or  carry  a  musket, 
were  put  to  work  upon  the  fortifications,  or  trained  in  the 
art  of  defending  them. 

39.  The  Mississippi,  upon  the  east  bank  of  which  New- 
Orleans  stands,  flows  to  the  ocean  in  several  channels. 
One.  leaving  the  main  stream  above  the  city,  runs  east  of 
it  and  forms,  in  its  course,  Lake  Ponchartrain  and  Lake 
Borgnc.     Early  in   December,  the    enemy  entered  this 
channel.     Their  whole  force  amounted  to  about  8000  men, 
a  part  of  whom  had  just  left  the  shores  of  the  Chesapeake, 
and  the  remainder  had  arrived  directly  from  England.     A 
small  squadron  of  gunboats  under  lieutenant  Jones,  was 
despatched  to  oppose  their  passage  into  the  lake.     Theso 
were  met  by  a  superior  force,  and  after  a  spirited  conflict, 
in  which  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  exceeded 
the  whole  number  of  the  Americans^  they  were  compelled 
to  surrender. 

40.  This  disaster  required  the  adoption,  in  the  city,  of 
more  vigorous  measures.     Disaffection  growing  bolder, 
martial  law  was  proclaimed;  the  authority  of  the  civil 
magistrate  was  suspended  ;  and  arbitrary  power  was  as 
sumed  and  exercised  by  the  commander-in-chief.     May 
no  emergency  hereafter  occur,  in  which  a  military  officer 
shall  consider  himself  authorized  to  cite,  as  a  precedent, 
this  violation  of  the  constitution. 

41.  On  the  21st  of  December,  four  thousa^l  militia 
arrived  from  Tennessee.     On  the  22d,  the  enemy,  having 
previously  landed,  took  a  position  near  the  main  channel 
of  the  river,  about  eight  miles  below  the  city.     In  the 
evening  of  the  23d,  general  Jackson  made  a  sudden  and 
furious  attack  upon  their  camp.      They  were  thrown  into 
nisoMor,:  h;t  thpr-soon  rallied  and  fought  with  bravery 

t  <> 


^  MAD1SCLYS  [iblo. 

equal  to  that  of  the  assailants.  Satisfied  with  the  advan 
tage  first  gained,  he  withdrew  his  troops,  fortified  a  strong 
position  four  miles  below  New-Orleans,  and  supported  it 
by  batteries  erected  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river. 

42.  On  the  28th  of  December,  and  first  of  January, 
vigorous  but  unsuccessful  attacks  were  made  upon  theso 
fortifications  by  the  enemy.     In  the  mean  time,  both 
armies  had  received  reinforcements ;  and  general  Packen- 
ham,  the  British  commander,  resolved  to  exert  all  his 
strength  in  a  combined  attack  upon  the  American  positions 
on  both  sides  of  the  river.     With  almost  incredible  indus 
try,  he  caused  a  canal,  leading  from  a  creek  emptying  into 
Lake  Borgne  to  the  main  channel  of  the  Mississippi.  1  o 
he  dug,  that  he  might  remove  a  part  of  his  boats  and  ar 
tillery  to  the  latter.     All  things  being  prepared,  the  8th 
of  January  was  assigned  for  the  assault. 

43.  In  the  night,  a  regiment  was  transported  across  the 
liver,  to  storm  the  works  on  the  western  bank,  and  turn 
i  he  guns  on  the  American  troops  on  the  eastern.     Early 
in  the  morning,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of 
t-oven  or  eight  thousand  men,  marched  from  their  camp  to 
the  assault.     While  approaching,  fearless  and  undaunted, 
showers  of  grape-shot  thinned  their  ranks.     When  they 
came  within  musket-shot  a  vivid  stream  of  fire  burst  from 
the  American  lines.     General  Jackson  having  placed  his 
troops  in  two  ranks,  those  in  the  rear  loaded  for  those  in 
iVont,  enabling  them  to  fire  with  scarcely  a  moment's 
intermission.      The   militia  of  the  west,   trained  from 
infancy  to  the  use  of  the  rifle,  seldom  took  unsteady  or 
uncertain  aim.     The  plain  was  soon  covered  with  dead 
;ind  wounded.     Some  British  regiments  faltered  and  fell 
back;   but  others  advanced  and  presented  new  victims. 
While  bravely  leading  to  the  wails  the  regiment  which 
bore  the  ladders,  general   Packenham  was  killed.      In 
attempting  to  reslore  order  and  to  rally  the  fugitives, 
general  Gibbs,  the  second   in  command,  was  wounded 
mortally,  and  general  Keene  severely.     Without  officers 
to  direct  them,  the  troops  first  halted,  then  iV-11  bar-k,  and 
soon  fled  in  disorder  to  their  camp.     In  little  more  than 
an  hour,  two  thousand  of  the  enemy  were  laid  prostrate, 
upon  the  field ;  while  -of  the  Americans  but  SCVMI  were 
killed  and  six  wounded — a  disproportion  of  loss  without  it 
parallel  in  the  annals  of  warfare. 

44.  The  events  of  the  day,   on  the  west  side  of  the* 
riTer  present  s  striking   instant    ofth^   rnrortainlv-  tit" 


I- 15.  j  ADMINISTRATION.  2'83 

warlike  operations.  There  the  Americans  were  thrice  the 
number  of  the  assailants,  and  were  protected  by  intrench- 
ments ;  but  they  ingloriously  fled.  They  were  closely 
pursued,  until  the  British  party,  receiving  intelligence  of 
the  defeat  of  the  main  army,  withdrew  from  pursuit  and 
recrossed  the  river.  They  then  returned  and  resumed 
possession  of  their  intrenchments. 

45.  General  Lambert,  upon  whom  the  command  of  the 
British  army  had  devolved,  having  lost  all  hope  of  success, 
prepared  to  return  to  his  shipping.     In  his  retreat'  he  was 
not  molested  :  general  Jackson  wisely  resolving  to  hazard 
nothing  that  he  had  gained,  in  attempting  to  gain  still  more. 

46.  In  the  midst  of  the  rejoicings  for  this  signal  victory, 
a  special  messenger  arrived  from  Europe,  with  a  treaty  of 
peace,  which,  in  December,  had  been  concluded  at  Ghent. 
The  British  government  had  receded  from  all  their  de 
mands  ;  and  as  the  orders  in  council  had  been  repealed, 
and  all  motive  for  the  impressment  of  seaman  had  ceased 
with  the  war  in  Europe,  no  stipulation,  in  relation  to  theso 
subjects,  was  inserted  in  the  treaty,  which  provided  merely 
for  the  restoration  of  peace  and  the  revision  of  boundaries. 
The  treaty  was  immediately  ratified  by  the  president  and 
senate. 

47.  The  wrar,  however,  did  not  cease  on  the  ocean,  until 
two  additional  victories  had  imparted  a  brighter  lustre  to 
the  republican  flag.     In  February,  the  Constitution,  then 
cruising  under  the  command  of  captain  Stewart,  captured 
the  Cyane  and  Levant,  whose  forcesjunited  were  superior 
to  hers;  and  in  March,  the  sloop  "Hornet  captured  the 
brig  Penguin,  stronger  in  guns  and  men  than  the  victor, 


APPENDIX. 


THE  English  colonies  of  North  America  were  settled  under 
the  most  favorable  auspices.  The  mind  of  man  had  just  burst 
from  thraldom,  arid  begun  to  delight  in  the  free  and  vigorous 
exercise  of  its  powers.  Religion  and  government  had  become 
themes  of  animated  discussion.  The  people  had  boldly  ques 
tioned  the  divine  right  of  their  rulers  to  control  their  actions, 
and  of  their  priests  to  prescribe  to  them  articles  of  faith.  They 
had  assumed  a  higher  r;ink  find  bolder  attitude ;  and,  conscious  of 
their  own  power,  had  begun  to  ibel  less  dependence  upon  others. 

2.  From  that  country,  where  the  advancement  of  knowledge 
had  been  greatest,  came  those  who  peopled  this  western  wilder 
ness.     They  belonged  principally  to  a  class,  so  high  as  to  have 
participated  largely  in  the  advantages  which  knowledge  imparts, 
and  yet  not  so  high  as  to  be  above  the  power  of  the  oppressor. 
The  persecutions  they  had  endured  rendered  the  principles  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty  more  dear  <to  their  hearts  ;  and  led 
to  inquiries  and  reflections,  which  fixed  a  conviction  of  their 
•truth  more  firmly  in  their  understandings. 

3.  No  occasion  could  be  more  fortunate,  no  men  could  bf? 
better  fitted,  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  superstructure  entirely 
new.     Their  knowledge  enabled  them  to  discern  the  good  arid 
the  evil  of  the  political  institutions,  which  had  existed  in  the 
world-;  and  their  feelings,  chastened  by  their  sufferings,  or  ele 
vated  by  their  favorable  view  of  human  nature,  led  them  to 
reject  those  provisions,  which  sacriiiced  the  happiness  of  many 
to  the  splendor  of  a  few  ;  and  to  adopt  such  only  as  gave  equal 
rights  and  privileges  to  all. 

4.  In  every  nation  of  Europe,  ecclesiastical  establishments 
fcxisted,  almost  co-ordinate  with  the  civil  authority.     The  offi 
cers  of  these  establishments  were  numerous,  and  their  privileges 
extensive.     For  their  support,  in  early  times,  a  tenth  part  of 
the  income  of  the  laity  was  appropriated.     Possessing  wealth, 
and  rank,  and  learning,  their  influence  was  great,  and  was 
constantly  exerted  to  acquire  and  preserve  dominion  over  the 
minds  ami  consciences  of  men.     Their  success  was  equal  to 
the  means  which  they  emploj'ed.     They  continued  to  add  to 
their  wealth  and  power,  until,  corrupted  by  luxury  and  idle 
ness,  they  forgot  their  duties  to  God  arid  to  man;  and  en 
cumbered  society  with  a  useless  and  oppressive  weight. 

5.  No  part  of  these  establishments  have  been  transferred 
to  America.     The  first  settlers  of  most  of  the  colonies  were 
top  proud  of  their  attainments,  in  spiritual  knowledge,  to  sub 
mit  to  dictation  in  matters  of  faith ;  and  too  independent  in 
feeling  to  acknowledge  a  superior  on  earth.     Here  man  re 
sumed  his  natural  and  dignified  station  ;  and  the  ministers  of 
the  gospel,  maintaining  an  apostolical  simplicity  of  character 
^ud  manner^  have  seldom  sought  to  obtain,  and  possess  not; 


APPENDIX,  285 

:lic  means  of  obtaining,  any  greater  influence  than  that  which 
superior  virtue  and  piety  confer. 

6.  The  doctrine  of  hereditary  right  prevailed  also  throusrhout 
jjurope.    By  the  fundamental  regulations  of  nearly  every  king 
dom,  the  monarch  and  nobles  transmitted  to  their  eldest  sons, 
wen  though  destitute  of  talents  arid  virtue,  their  authority, 
privileges,  and  rank.     The  people  often  saw  on  the  throne  men, 
who  were  guilty  of  the  most  atrocious  wickedness,  and  whose 
conduct  involved  communities  and  nations  in  misery ;  but  no 
•.ittempt  could  be  made  to  remove  or  punish  them  without  incur 
ring  the  penalty  of  rebellion.     They  saw  also,  in  other  exalted 
stations,  men  equally  wicked  and  equally  beyond  their  control. 

7.  The  law  of  primogeniture  existed  as  a  part  of  the  here 
ditary  system.     The  eldest  son  inherited,  not  the  title  only,  but 
also  a  11  the  lands  of  the  father.     By  this  unjust  and  unnatural 
law.  the  younger  sons  and  the  daughters  were  doomed  to  com- 
]  sarative  poverty.    One  portion  of  the  people  was  made  rich  and 
n  nother  poor.    Few  were  placed  in  that  happy  medium  between 
wealth  and  poverty,  which  is  most  favorable  to  virtue,  to  hap 
piness,  and  to  the  improvement  of  the  human  faculties; 

8.  The  principle,  that  power  could  be  inherited,  was  at  once 
rejected  by  the  first  emigrants  to  America.  They  had  witnessed, 
hi  Europe,  the  pernicious  operation  of  this  principle  ;  they 
\vere  convinced  of  its  absurdity  ;  and  even  had  not  such  been 
the  case,  that  equality  of  rank  and  condition,  which  existed 
among  them,  would  have  prevented  any  one  from  claiming  such 
a  privilege  for  his  family,  arid  all  others  from  submitting  to  it. 

9.  The  law  of  primogeniture  fell  of  course  into  disuse,  or  was 
abolished.    That  equality  of  rights  and  of  rank,  which  prevailed 
at  first,  has  continued  to  prevail ;  and  though,  in  some  of  the 
colonies,  the  extravagant  grants  of  land,  which  were  made  by 
capricious  governors  to  their  favorites,  introduced  ^reat  ine 
quality  of  fortune,  yet  the  salutary  operation  of  various  laws 

'js  continually  diminishing  this  inequality,  dividing  and  dis 
tributing  among  many  that  wealth,  which,  when  in  the  hands 
of  a  few,  is  less  beneficial  to  the  public,  and  productive  of  less 
individual  enjoyment. 

10.  The  systems  of  government  established  in  the  colonies 
"\vere  also  departures  from  European  precedents,  and  were  in. 
perfect  harmony  with  their  social  institutions.     Most  of  the 
provisions  of  the  early  charters  were  doubtless  suggested  by 
tlie  first  emigrants,  and  of  course  accorded  with  their  liberal 
political  principles.     The  kings,  who  granted  them,  conceded 
iiiany  privileges  to  encourage  the  settlement  of  colonies  in 
America,  entertaining  no  suspicion  that  their  successors  would 
over  have  occasion  to  regret  their  concessions.     These  char 
ters  made  but  little  distinction  in  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
the  colonists.     Every  man  could  regard  thor    iround  him  as 
his  equals.     The  state  of  individual  depende.  .oc  being  hardly 
known,  ail  sense  of  dependence  on  flie  mother  country  was 
gradually  lost;  and  the  transition  ir«;m  a  colonial  to  an  ind<> 

font  cqndttior]  was  natural  and  unavoidable, 


286  APPENDIX. 

11.  In  nothing  is  the  contrast  between  the  two  systems  of 
government  greater  than  in  the  requisitions,  which  they  make 
of  the  people,  for  their  support  and  defence.     That  of  Great 
Britain  may  be  taken  as  a  favorable  example  of  the  European 
governments.  The  people  of  that  kingdom  pay,  annually,  for  the 
support  of  their  sovereign  and  his  relatives,  nearly  two  and  a 
half  millions  of  dollars,  while  the  compensation  of  the  president 
of  the  United  States  is  but  twenty-five  thousand.  In  the  salaries 
of  the  subordinate  officers  of  government,  the  disproportion  is 
not  so  great,  but  is  generally,  nevertheless,  as  four  or  five  to  one, 

12.  The  military  peace  establishment  of  Great  Britain  costs 
annually  thirty-four  millions  of  dollars ;  that  of  the  United 
States  but  little  more  than  five  millions.     The  naval  estab 
lishment  of  the  former  costs  twenty-two  millions  ;  that  of  the 
latter  less  than  two  and  a  half  millions.     British  subjects  pay 
in  taxes,  raised  exclusively  for  national  purposes,  at  the  rate 
of  fifteen  dollars  yearly  for  each  individual ;  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  pay,  in  national  and  state  taxes,  at  the  rate  of  but 
two  dollars.    And  as  the  whole  population  of  Great  Britain  arid 
Ireland  is  included  in  the  estimate,  the  individual  wealth  of  the 
subjects  of  the  united  kingdom,  and  of  the  citizens  of  the  Ame 
rican  republic,  may,  on  an  average,  be  considered  nearly  equal. 

13.  With  burdens  thus  light,  not  embarrassed  by  too  much 
regulation,  nor  restricted  by  monopolies,  but  left  at  liberty  to 
pursue  their  own  interests,  as  individual  judgment  may  dictate, 
the  citizens  of  the  republic  have  boldly  embarked  in  all  the 
ordinary  pursuits  of  man  ;  and  in  all  have  met  with  a  degree 
of  success,  which  exhibits  a  favorable  and  forcible  commentary 
upon  their  free  institutions,  and  proves  that  no  other  people 
surpass  them  in  activity  or  enterprise, 

14.  In  the  pursuits  of  AGRICULTURE,  by  far  the  greatest 
portion  of  the  inhabitants  are  engaged  ;  and  for  that  employ 
ment  the  country  is  most  favorably  situated.      It  embraces 
every  desirable  variety  of  climate.     The  soil  is  generally  good ; 
in  many  parts  of  the  union,  it  is  exceedingly  fertile  ;  and  it 
produces,  or  may  be  made  to  produce,  almost  every  vegetable, 
which  can  be  used  as  the  food  of  man,  or  as  the  material  of 
manufactures.     The  northern  states  produce  Indian  corn,  rye, 
wheat,  flax,  hemp,  oats,  potatoes  ;  and  their  pastures  feed  and 
fatten  large  numbers  of  cattle  and  sheep.     The  middle  and 
western  states  produce  tobacco,  and  the  same  articles  as  the 
northern,  but  wheat  in  much  greater  abundance.    In  the  south 
ern  states,  cotton  is  principally  cultivated,  but  considerable 
quantities  of  rice  and  sugar  ate  produced. 

15.  In  1820,  the  number  of  persons  engaged  in  agriculture 
was  2,070,646.     The  value  of  all  its  products  exported  during 
the  year  ending  the  30th  of  September,  1823,  was  37.646,000 
dollars.     The  principle  articles  were,  cotton  to  the  value  of 
20.445,000  ddtars ;  flour  to  the  value  of  4,962,000  dollars  ; 
tobacco  to  the  value  of  4,852,000  dollars ;  and  rice  to  the  value 
of  1,821,000  dollars.     The  value  of  provisions  of  all  kinds 
exported  was  13,460^000  dollars,  end  it  has.  in  many  t 


APPENDIX.  287 

"been  greater.     A  people  ablo  to  spare  such  an  amount  of  tha 
necessaries  of  life  can  never  be  in  danger  of  suffering  from  want. 

16.  The  agricultural  class  is  conspicuous  for  industry,  morali 
ty,  and  general  intelligence ;  but  has  less  professional  knowledge 
than  the  same  class  in  Europe.     Land  having  hitherto  been 
cheap,  and  not  exhausted  by  cultivation,  agriculturalists  have 
not  been  eager,  and  it  has  not  been  necessary,  to  make  practical 
application  of  the  discoveries  of  science.     A  change  in  these 
respects  having  taken  place,  especially  in  the  Atlantic  states, 
many  now  study  their  profession  as  a  science  ;  and,  as  all  pro 
fessions  are  estimated  according  to  the  skill  and  intelligence 
required  to  attain  eminence  in  them,  they  are  raising  their 
own  nearer  to  that  rank  in  society,  to  which  the  utility  an<3 
importance  of  agriculture  entitle  it.     More  taste  and  neatness 
are  displayed,  and  the  appearance  of  the  country  is  visibly  and 
rapidly  improving. 

17.  The  COMMERCE  of  the  United  States  has  yielded  a  rich 
harvest  of  wealth.     Various  circumstances  have  directed  to 
this  pursuit  the  attention  of  a  large  portion  of  the  population, 
and  nave  contributed  to  their  prosperity  in  it.     For  two  thou 
sand  miles,  the  republic  bounds  upon  the  sea,  and  in  that 
space  has  many  excellent  harbors.     The  finest  timber  for  ship 
building  is  abundant,  and  easily  procured.     Near  the  shores 
of  the  northern  states,  and  on  the  adjacent  banks  of  New 
foundland,  are  fishing  stations,  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the 


proport] 

number  of  the  natives  of  those  states.  These  become  accus 
tomed  to  a  seafaring  life,  and  soon  pass  into  larger  vessels* 
destined  for  more  distant  and  perilous  voyages. 

18.  The  state  of  the  world,  for  several  years  subsequent  to- 
the  commencement  of  the  French  revolution,  offered  great  en 
couragement  to  the  commercial  enterprise  of  the  country.  While 
almost  every  other  power  was  engaged  in  war,  the  United  States- 
were  neutral ;  their  vessels  navigated  the  ocean  in  safety,  and 
were  employed  to  carry,  from  port  to  port,  the  commodities  of 
the  belligerant  nations.     In  fifteen  years,  beginning  with  1793, 
these  favorable  circumstances  increased  the  amount  of  Ameri 
can  tonnage  from  491,000  to  1,242,000  tons,  and  the  revenue 
arising  from  commerce,  from  4,399,000  to  16,363,000  dollars. 

19.  In  182-J,  the  number  of  persons  engaged  in  commerce 
was  72,493.      In  1823,  the  whole  amount  of  exports  was 
74,799,000  dollars ;  the  amount  of  imports  was  77,579,000 
dollars,  the  ballance,  in  favor  of  the  United  States,  being  about 
three  millions  of  dollars.     As  the  imports,  however,  are  always 
undervalued  at  the  custom-house,  the  additional  wealth,  which, 
in  that  year,  accrued  to  the  nation  from  commerce,  was  un 
doubtedly  greater. 

20.  In  other  years,  the  commerce  of  the  country  has  flour*- 
5  shed  more.     In  1807,  the  exports  amounted  to  308,343,001; 
dollars,  and  the  imports  to  138.574,000  dollars.     The  principal 
causes  of  the  decline  which  has  taken  place,  have  been,  the 


restoration  of  peace  in  Europe,  and  the  increase  •>!  the  bro> 
duct  of  domestic  manufactures.  The  former  has  permitted  ail 
other  nations  to  become  our  competitors  ;  the  latter  has  ren 
dered  it  unnecessary  to  resort  to  Europe  for  most  of  the  con- 
veniencies  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  The  depression 
will  not  long  continue.  The  independence  of  the  South  Ame 
rican  republics  has  opened  a  wide  neld  for  the  enterprise  of  our 
merchants,  and  given  a  brighter  hue  to  their  future  prospects, 
21.  The  COD  FISHERY  on  the  north-eastern  coast  of  America 
attracted,  at  an  early  period,  the  attention  of  the  world.  In 
1583,  Sir  Humphrey  Gilbert  found  thirty-six  vessels  fishing  in 
the  hafhor  of  St.  .lohn,  in  Newfoundland.  They  were  prin 
cipally  from  Biscaf,  in  Spain,  arid  Britany  in  France,  and,  tin- 
many  years,  the  French  retained  almost  a  monopoly  of  this 
source  of  wealth.  In  1744,  they  employed,  irfn'his  fishery,  414 
large  ships,  navigated  by  about  24,000  seamen,  and  the  quan 
tity  offish  taken  amounted  to  1,149,000  quintals. 


nent, 

BritaL-.  __  ,  .___   „,, t 

largely  in  them.  In  the  year  1760,  six  hundred  and  sixty  ves 
sels,  navigated  by  4,400  seamen,  were  fitted  out  from  the  ports 
of  New-England.  During  the  revolutionary  war,  the  Ameri 
cans  were  compelled  to  relinquish  this  profitable  pursuit ;  and 
it  required  all  the  firmness  and  address  of  the  negotiators  of 
the  peace  of  1783,  to  secure  to  these  states  those  advantages 
which  nature  seems  to  have  intended  lor  them,  and  which 
they  had  enjoyed  as  a  component  part  of  the  British  empire. 
They  were  at  length,  however,  notwithstanding  the  coven 
opposition  of  France,  conceded  by  the  mother  country. 

23.  From  that  period,  till  1807,  the  number  of  vessels  and 
men  employed  in  this  pursuit  continued  to  increase.  An  esti 
mate  has  been  made  that,  from  1790  to  IS  10,  twelve  hundred 
vessels  of  all  kinds,  navigated  by  10.500  men  and  boys,  were, 
on  an  average,  yearly  employed  in  the  Bank,  Bay,  and  Labra 
dor  fisheries ;  1,150,000  quintals  offish  were  caugut  and  cured : 
and  37,000  barrels  of  oil  were  made.  The  annual  value  of 
the  product  of  these  fisheries  could  not  have  been  less  than 
three  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars.  They  were  interrupted 
by  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  have  not  since  re 
gained  their  former  activity.  As  nurseries  of  seamen,  they 
are  important  to  the  nation ;  and  as  such  have  received  tin? 
particular  attention  and  encouragement  of  government.  A 
Dounty,  which  has,  in  some  years,  amounted  to  200,000  dol 
lars,  is  paid  to  the  owners  and  crews  of  the  vessels  employed. 
*  24.  The  WHALE  FISHERY  of  the  United  States  ought  not  to 
be  passed  over  unnoticed.  Its  successful  prosecution  requires 
uncommon  hardihood  and  skill.  As  early  as  1690,  the  inhab 
itants  of  Nantucket  engaged  in  this  pursuit,  and  were  soon 
after  joined  by  their  brethren  of  the  town  New-Bedford.  In 
a  few  years  these  monsters  of  the  deep  were  driven  from  the 
American  coasts  ;  but  were  pursued,  with  ardor  into  seas  the 


APPENDIX.  281* 

most  remote.  In  1715,  two  hundred  and  twenty-eight  tons  ; 
in  1771,  twenty-seven  thousand  tons;  in  1815,  forty-two 
fhousand  tons  of  shipping  were  employed  in  this  business. 
The  product  of  this  fishery,  exported'  in  1807,  consisting  of 
common  and  spermaceti  oil  and  whale-bone,  was  valued  at 
1)06,000  dollars;  in  1823,. at  653,000  dollars. 

25.  An  extract  from  the  speech  of  Mr.  Burke  delivered  in 
the  British  parliament,  in  1775,  presents,  in  eloquent  language, 
a  correct  idea  of  the  importance  of  this  fishery,  and  of  the 
enterprise  and  dexterity  of  those  engaged  in  it.     "  As  to  the 
•wealth  which  the  colonies  have  drawn  from  the  sea  by  their 
fisheries,  you  had  all  that  matter  fully  opened  at  your  bar.  Yon 
surely  thought  those  acquisitions  of  value  ;    for  they  seemed 
even  to  excite  your  envy;  and  yet  the  spirit  by  which  that 
enterprising  employment  has  been  exercised,  ought  rather,  in. 
my  opinion,  to  have  raised  your  esteem  and  admiration 

26.  "  And  pray,  sir,  what  in  the  world  is  equal  to  it  1  Pass 
by  the  otherparts,  and  look  at  the  manner  in  which  the  peo 
ple  of  New-England  have  of  late  carried  on  the  whale  fishery. 
While  we  follow  them  among  the  tumbling  mountains  of  ice, 
and  behold  them  penetrating  into  the  deepest  frozen  recesses 
of  Hudson's  bay  and  Davis's  straits ;  whilst  we  are  looking 
for  them  beneath  the  arctic  circle,  we  hear  that  they  have 
pierced  into  the  opposite  region  of  polar  cold;  that  they  are 
lit-  the  Antipodes,  and  engaged  under  the  frozen  serpent  of  the 
£<outh.  Falkland  Island,  which  seemed  too  remote  and  romantic 
an  object  for  the  grasp  of  national  ambition,  is  but  a  stage 
<ind  resting  place  in  the  progress  of  their  victorious  industry. 

27.  "  Nor  is  the  equinoctial  heat  more  discouraging  to  them 
than  the  accumulated  winter  of  both  poles.     We  know  that, 
while  some  of  them  draw  the  line  and  strike  the  harpoon  on  the 
coasts  of  Africa,  others  run  the  longitude  and  pursue  the  gigan-  • 
t  ic  game  along  the  coast  of  Brazil.     No  se;i  but  what  is  vexed 
by  their  fisheries.     No  climate  that  is  not  witness  to  their  toils. 
j\  either  the  perseverance  of  Holland,  nor  the  activity  of  France, 
nor  the  dexterous  and  firm  sagacity  of  English  enterprise,  ever 
carried  this  most  perilous  mode  of  hardy  industry  to  the  extent 
to  which  it  has  been  pushed  by  this  recent  people ;  a  people 
who  are  still,  as  it  were,  but  in  the  gristle  and  not  yet  hardened 
into  the  bone  of  manhood. 

28.  "When  I  contemplate  these  things  ;  when  I  know  that 
the  colonies  owe  little  or  nothing  to  any  care  of  ours,  and  that 
they  are  not  squeezed  into  this  happy  form  by  the  constraints 
of  watchful  and  suspicious  government,  but  that,  through  a 
\vise  and  salutary  neglect,  a  generous  nature  has  been  suffered 
fo^take  its  own  way  to  perfection;  when  I  reflect  upon  these 
^fleets,  when  I  see  how  profitable  they  have  been  to  us,  I  feel 
all  the  pride  of  power  sink,  and  all  presumption  in  the  wisdom 
of  human  contrivances  melt  and  die  away  within  me.     My 
rigor  relents.     I  pardon  something  to  the  .spirit  of  liberty." 

29.  MANUFACTURES.     While  the  United  States  were  colo 
nies,  the  mother  country  endeavored  to  prevent  the  inhabitants 

Z 


from  manufacturing  any  article  whatever,  even  for  their  o\vu 
use.  The  erection  of  slitting-mills  was  prohibited,  and  hatters 
were  forbidden  to  take  any  apprentice  for  less  than  seven  years, 
or  to  employ  more  than  two  at  a  time.  In  addition  to  these  and 
other  legislative  enactments,  the  wages  of  labor  were  high, 
and,  neither  skill  nor  surplus  capital  existed  in  the  country.  But 
little  attention  was  of  course  given  to  manufactures,  and  the 
inhabitants  received  their  supplies  from  the  artizans  of  England. 

30.  Some  attempts  were  however  made,  a  few  years  previous 
io  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war,  to  introduce 
manufactures.     Such  was  in  part  the  intention  of  the  non 
importation  agreements  ;  and  some  of  the  colonial  legislatures, 
to  encourage  the  production  of  wool,  and  the  manufacture  of 
cloths,  exempted  sheep  from  taxation.     But,  at  no  time,  pre 
vious  to  the  adoption  of  Ihe  constitution,  did  manufacturers 
exist  in  the  country  in  sufficient  number  to  be  considered  a 
class  of  the  population. 

31.  And  indeed  it  was  not  until  the  imposition  of  the  em 
bargo,  in  1807,  that  any  considerable  impulse  was  given  to 
this  branch  of  industry.     Prevented  by  this  interruption  of 
commerce,  from  exchanging  their  products  for  foreign  articles, 
the  inhabitants  then  attempted  to  fabricate  them  for  them 
selves.     From  the  want  of  experience  and  skill,  many  of  the 
first  attempt^  were  unsuccessful ;  but  in  a  very  short  time, 
these  deficiencies  were  supplied,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
the  amount  of  the  products  of  manufactures  was  astonishingly 
great.     Forming  an  estimate  from  the  amount  in  1810,  whicli 
was  near  170  millions,  it  could  not  have  been  less,  for  18.14, 
than  two  hundred  millions  of  dollars.     In  this  amount,  how- 
over,  are  included  the  products  of  household  manufactures, 
and  of  the  mechanic  arts. 

32.  Peace,  by  affording  to .  foreigners  an  opportunity  of  in 
troducing  the  goods  which  had  accumulated  in  their  ware 
houses,  checked,  for  a  few  years,  the  impulse  which  the  re 
strictive  measures  and  the  war  had  given.     In  each  of  the 
three  years  following  1815,  the  value  of  articles  manufactured 
\vas  probably  less  than  in  any  one  of  the  preceding  six  years. 
From  the  year  1818,  the  amount  has  gradually  increased,  and 
in  1821  and  1822,  it  was  probably  greater  than  it  had  ever 
before  been.     It  will  hereafter  continue  to  increase,  and  the 
navigation  of  the  country  will  be  employed,  not  so  much  in 
bringing  home  the  manufactures  of  other  nations,  as  in  car 
rying  abroad  those  of  the  United  States.     In  this  way,  domes 
tic  manufactures  will  repay  to  commerce  the  capital  they  have 
lately  drawn  from  it. 

33  The  states  in  which  the  greatest  attention  is  devoted  to 
this  branch  of  industry,  are  Rhode  Island,  Pennsylvania,  Mas 
sachusetts,  New-Hampshire,  and  Connecticut.  The  principal 
manufactures  are  those  of  cotton  and  of  woollen  cloths,  of 
iron,  and  of  leather.  In  1820,  the  number  of  inhabitants 
engaged  in  manufactures  was  349,506. 

34.  The  question,  whether  agriculture,  commerce,  or  man- 


APPENDIX.  291 

ufactures  is  most  productive  of  national  wealth,  and  to  which 
the  government  ought,  in  preference,  to  extend  its  protection 
and  encouragement,  has  lately  been  warmly  discussed,  hy  the 
politicians  and  writers  on  political  economy,  in  America,  andv 
m  Europe.  Each  interest  has  had  its  advocates.  The  deci-  * 
sion  of  the  impartial  statesman  would  probably  be,  that  neither 
should  be  encouraged  to  the  neglect  of  the  others  ;  that  if 
either  is,  in  any  degree,  to  be  preferred,  it  is  that  which  is,  at 
the  time,  the  most  depressed ;  or  that  which  supplies  most  of 
the  means  of  national  defence,  and  most  of  the  necessaries 
and  conveniences  of  life. 

35.*  DEBT,  REVENUE,  and  EXPENDITURES.  When,  in  1790, 
the  public  debt  was  first  funded,  it  amounted  to  about  75,000,000 
of  dollars.  In  1803,  by  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  it  was 
augmented  to  about  85,500,000.  '  In  the  eight  years  which 
followed,  a  large  amount  was  paid,  leaving  due,  in  1812,  but 
little  more  than  45,000,000.  To  defray  the  expenses  of  the 
war,  which  was  declared  in  that  year,  more  than  80,000,000 
of  new  debt  was  contracted.  A  large  portion  has  since  been 
paid,  and,  on  the  lirst  day  of  January,  1823,  the  amount  of  it 
was  90,865,877  dollars. 

36.  The  present  revenue  of  the  republic  is  derived  princi 
pally  from  commerce,  and  from  the  sale  of  public  lands.     In 
1822,  there   accrued  from  the   former  source,  the   sum  of 
20,500,775  dollars;  from  the  latter  source,  1,803,581;  and 
from  other  sources,  839,084.  The  amount,  however,  which  was 
actually  received,  during  the  "year,  was  but  20,232,427. 

37.  The  expenditures,  during  the  same  year,  were  as  fol 
lows  :  Civil,  diplomatic Jfrnd  miscellaneous,   1,967^996 ;  for 
the  pay  and  support  of  trie  army,  the  construction  of  forts,  the 
supply  of  arms,  the  payment  of  pensions,  and  the  various  ex 
penses  of  the  Indian  department,  5,635,188  ;  for  the  support 
and  increase  of  the  navy,  2,224,458  ;  for  the  payment  ot  the 
interest,  and  for  the  redemption  of  that  portion  of  the  principal 
of  the  debt  which  became  due  within  the  year,  7,848,949 ; 
amounting  in  the  whole  to  17,676,591,  and  leaving  an  excess 
of  revenue  over  expenditure  of  2,555,836  dollars. 

38.  EDUCATION.     In  the  kingdoms  of  Europe,  large  sums 
have*  been  appropriated,  by  the  government,  for  the  purposes 
of  education.1    Nearly  ;i'<*.  however,  has   been  expended   in 
founding  or  endowing  universities.     To  these  the  sons  of  the 
noble  and  the  rich  could  alone  gain  access  ;  and  the  intention 
and  effect  of  the  expenditure  has  always  been,  to  produce 
erudite  scholars  and  able  orators,  and  to  perpetuate  and  widen 
the  separation  between  the  higher  and  the  lower  classes  of 
(he  population. 

39.  The  peoplo  of  the  United  States  have  had  a  different 
object  in  view,  and  one  more  congenial  with  their  political  in 
stitutions.     Desirous  that  none  should  be  ignorant,  their  first 
und  principal  care  has  been,  to  impart  the  advantages  of  in- 
-u-nction  to  the  whole  mass  of  the  population.     With  this 
vii?\v.  thr  lorrislntinvs  of  inanvof  the  states  have  ordained  that 


XMW  APPENDIX. 

schools,  for  the  education  of  all  the  youth  in  reading,  writing', 
and  arithmetic,  shall  be  kept,  and  supported  by  a  public  and 
general  tax. 

40.  This  system  was  adopted  in  Massachusetts  as  early  as 
1647.     A  law  was  then  passed,  by  that  colony,  providing  that 
a  school  should  be  kept  in  every  township  having  fifty  house 
holders,  in  which  all  the  children,  who  might  resort  to  it, 
should  be  taught  to  rend  and  write.     As  the  number  of  in 
habitants  increased,  the  townships  were  divided  into  small 
districts,  and  a  school  supported  in  each.     Thus,  the  means 
of  education  were  provided,  at  the  public  expense,  and  the 
opportunity  of  acquiring  it  placed  within  the  power  of  all. 

41.  Immediately  after  their  first  settlement,  the  same  system 
was  adopted  by  the  other  colonies  of  New-England ;  and  it 
has,   by  all  of  them,  been  preserved  and  cherished  to  the  pre 
sent  time.     Connecticut,  having  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Ohio, 
which  was  sold  for  1,200,000  dollars,  appropriated  the  whole 
sum  to  the  support  of  common  or  primary  schools.     The  sum 
has  since  been  augmented  to  1,700,000  dollars,  and  the  in 
terest   is  annually  distributed  to  the  several  school  districts, 
according  to  the  number  of  scholars  taught  in  each.     No  dis 
trict,  however,  is  entitled  to  any  aid  from  this  fund,  unless  it 
had,  in  the  preceding  year,  expended,  for  the  same  purpose,  a 
certain  amount  derived  from  its  own  resources. 

42.  The  effect  of  this  system  has  been,  to  render  the  great 
body  of  the  people  of  these  states  the  most  enlightened  in  the 
world.     All  can  read  and  write,  and  rarely  can  one  be  found 
not  qualified,  by  education,  to  transact  the  common  concerns 
of  life.     To  educate  his  children,  is  the  first  object,  and  the 
chief  glory  of  the  parent ;  their  ignorance  is  to  him  and  to 
them  disgraceful.     In  these  schools,  the  human  mind  receives 
its  first  impulse  in  the  career  of  learning ;  an  impulse  which 
carries  many  forward  to  high  stations  of  honor  and  of  usefulness. 

43.  The  great  state  of  New- York,  distinguished  for  magni 
ficent  projects  of  internal  improvement,  and  for  liberal  patron 
age  of  literature  and  the  arts,  has  lately  adopted  a  system  nearly 
similar  to  that  of  Connecticut.     From  various  sources,  it  has 
accumulated  a  fund,  the  income  of  which  is  to  be  applied  an 
nually  to  the  support  of  common  schools.     This  fund,  in  1820, 
amounted  to  1,215,000  dollars.     Sipcc  that  year,  all  the  un 
sold  and  unappropriated  lands,  which,  when  disposed  of,  will 
probably  produce  about  one  million  more,  have  been  perma 
nently  devoted  to  the  same  object.     The  annual  interest  of 
this  fund  is  distributed,  according  to  population,  among  the 
several  townships,  on  their  raising,  for  the  same  purpose,  an 
additional  sum  equal  to  that  which  they  receive  from  the  state. 
In  1821,  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  thousand  children  were 
taught,  in  the  several  district  schools  ;  a  number  nearly  equal 
to  that  of  all  the  children  in  the  state  between  five  and  fifteen 
years  of  age.     In  1823,  the,  number  taught  was  400,000. 

44.  Virginia  has  also  a  literary  fund,  the  interest  of  a  part 
of  which  is  appropriated  to  the  support  of  common  schools. 


APPENDIX,  2i$ 

This  fund  is  of  recent  origin,  and  its  income  is  yet  small. 
The  advantages  of  education  are,  however,  so  highly  appreci 
ated  in  that  state,  by  its  enligltfened  citizens,  that  most  of  the 
rising  generation  are  instructed  in  private  schools,  or  by  do 
mestic  teachers.  The  same  remark  will  apply  to  most  of  the  $ 
middle  and  southern  state? ;  yet?  in  these,  too  many  of  the 
children  of  the  poor  will  remain  m  ignorance  until  effectual 
provision  is  made,  by  the  respective  governments,  for  the  in 
struction  of  all. 

45.  The  national  government  has  not  been  unmindful  of  the 
importance  of  universal  education.     Before  the  adoption  of 
1  he  constitution,  it  acquired,  by  the  cession  of  the  states  claim- 
i  ng  it,  the  property  of  nearly  all  the  unappropriated  land  within 
the  national  boundaries.     In  offering  this  land  for  sale,  it  has 
reserved,  in  every  township,  one  section,  comprising  640  acres, 
for  the  use  of  schools.     As  the  population  of  the  new  states 
becomes  more  dense,  these  lands  will  constitute  a  valuable 
and  productive  fuiid,  and  the  system  of  free  schools,  thus 
planted  in  the  western,  will  there  produce  the  same  benefits 
as  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  union. 

46.  Schools  of  a  higher  order,  to  which  the  name  of  acade 
mies  has  been  applied,  are  numerous  in  all  the  states,  especially 
in  those  of  New- England.     Many  are  incorporated,  and  some 
possess  considerable  funds.     That  at  Exeter,  in  New-Hamp 
shire,  holds  the  highest  rank;    its  funds  amount  to  80,000 
dollars  ;  it  has  a  library  containing  700  volumes,  and  a  hand 
some  philosophical  apparatus.     In  these  schools  are  taught 
English   grammar,  composition,   history,   geography,  mathe 
matics,  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages.     Many  young  men 
resort  to  them  to  acquire  an  education  superior  to  that  which 
can  be  obtained  at  the  primary  schools,  and  many  to  prepare 
themselves  to  enter  some  college  or  university.     They  are 
principally  taught  by  those,  who  have  just  received  a  degree 
in  the  arts,  and  who  are  unable,  from  the  want  of  property, 
to  engage  immediately  in  the  study  of  the  professions  which 
they  intend  to  pursue. 

47.  Of  colleges  and  universities  there  is  also  a  large  number 
5n  the  United  States.     The  oldest  arid  first  in  rank  is  Harvard 
College,  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.     It  was  established  in 
1 638,  only  eighteen  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  Plymouth. 
It  had  then  a  fund  of  about  5,000  dollars,  nearly  two  thirds  of 
which  was  a  donation  from  the  Rev.  John  Harvard,  of  Charles- 
town.     The  first  degrees  were  conferred,  upon  nine  young 
gentlemen,  in  1642.     It  has  since  received  many  and  large 
additions  to  its  funds,  principally  donations  from  individuals; 
and,  from  the  exertions  of  its  learned  presidents  and  profes 
sors,  has,  with  short  intermissions,  been  constantly  advancing 
in  reputation,  and  increasing  in  usefulness.     The  library  con 
tains  about  twenty-live  thousand  volumes.  In  1824,  the  faculty 
consisted  of  a  president,  and  twenty  professors ;  the  number 
of  students  was  222,  and  of  the  resident  graduates  146. 

'  as  founded  in  1700.  and  incorporated^ 


^94  4s  APPENDIX. 

T701.  It  "was  first  established  at  Saybrook ;  but,  in  1716, 
•was  removed  to  New-Haven,  in  Connecticut.  Elihu  Yale,  a 
merchant  in  London,  having  made  to  it  a  donation  of  more 
than  four  thousand  dollars,  its  name  was,  in  1718,  changed 
from  the  Collegiate  School,  to  Yale  College.  Afterwards 
"bishop  Berkeley,  the  celebrated  metaphysician,  who  had  re 
sided  two  years  in  America,  presented  to  it  a  collection  of 
books,  consisting  of  nearly  one  thousand  volumes  ;  and  a  farm 
in  Newport,  the  annual  rent  of  which,  on  a  long  lease,  is  two 
hundred  and  forty  bushels  of  wheat.  From  the  state,  and 
from  other  sources,  it  has  received  many  liberal  donations. 
Its  libraries  contain  about  nine  thousand  volumes.  In  1824, 
the  faculty  consisted  of  a  president,  and  eleven  professors,  and 
the  number  of  its  students  was  349. 

49.  In  addition  to  these,  there  are,  in  the  union,  about  fifty 
colleges  and  universities  authorized  to  confer  degrees.     In  all 
of  these  are  taught,  the  English,  Latin,  and  Greek  languages, 
rhetoric,  mathematics,  natural  philosophy,  logic,  chymistry, 
astronomy,  history,  and  geography.     In  some  of  them  are  also 
taught  the  Hebrew,  oriental,  and  modern  European  languages ; 
anatomy,  surgery,  medicine,  botany,  polite  literature,  divinity, 
ethics,  natural  and  municipal  law,  politics,  and  elocution. 

50.  LITERATURE.     The  remark  has  often  been  made,  that 
the  United  Slates  have  produced  no  eminent  scholars  ;  and 
that  the  national  character  has  not  been  illustrated  by  literary 
and  scientific  performances  of  distinguished  merit.     This  re 
mark  is  doubtless  just.     Compared  with  those  of  the  old  world, 
their  writers  have  not  exhibited  the  same  labored  polish  of 
style,  nor  their  men  of  science  the  same  perseverance  and 
extent  of  investigation.     Their  historians  are  not  equal  to 
Hume  or  Robertson ;  their  poets  to  Milton  or  Pope  ;  their 
t?hymists  to  Lavoisier  or  Davy  ;    nor  their  metaphysicians  to 
Locke,  Berkeley,  or  Reid. 

51.  But  this  i'act  implies  no  deficiency  of  mental  vigor  in 
the  people.     The  mind  of  the  nation  has  received,  from  cir 
cumstances,  a  different  direction.      Those  who  are  endued 
with  extraordinary  talent,  whatever  may  have  been  their  ori 
ginal  propensities,  have  been  called  from  the  closet  to  labor  in 
the  legislative  hail,  or  the  cabinet ;  to  vindicate  the  cause  or 
defend  the  interest  of  their  country  abroad  ;  to  dispense  jus 
tice  from  the  bench,  or  to  support  and  defend,  at  the  bar,  the 
claims  and  the  rights  of  their  fellow  citizens. 

52.  To  perform  these  duties,  certainly  not  less  honorable 
nor  less  difficult  than  any  thing  which  me  mere  scholar  can 
perform,  a  greater  variety  of  talents,  and  greater  intellectual 
labor,  have  been  required  in  this  than  in  any  other  country. 
Jlere,  in  comparatively  a  short  period,  the  foundations  have 
been   laid,  and  the  superstructures  erected,  of  new  political 
institutions.     Many  governments  have  been  established  over 
communities  differing  from  each  other,  and    from  those  of 
.Europe;  and  over  these  a  paramount  government,  with  ex- 
.tqnsive  -and  important  powers.    For  .each  of  those  con>-mmi- 


APPENDIX.,  «9& 

riies,  a  new  system  of  law  has  been  required,  and  each  govern 
ment  has  a  separate  executive,  legislative,  and  judicial  depart 
ment.  The  population  of  no  country  has  been  called  upon  to 
supply  such  a  number  of  legislators,  of  judges,  and  of  lawyers; 
nor,  it  may  be  added,  of  instructors  of  youth.  And,  while 
their  number  accounts  for  the  comparative  neglect  of  literature 
and  the  fine  arts,  the  talents  they  have  displayed  sufficiently 
vindicate  the  republic  from  the  reproach  of  intellectual  infe 
riority. 

58.  But  not  in  these  modes  alone  have  the  people  of  these 
states  proved,  that  in  original  powers  of  mind  they  may  assert 
an  equality,  at  least,  with  those  of  any  other  nation.  None 
has  made  more  important  discoveries  in  the  useful  arts.  Eng 
land  boasts  of  her  Arkwright,  whr*  invented  the  spinning 
machine  ;  of  her  Worcester,  Newcomen,  and  Watt,  by  whose 
ingenuity  and  labors  the  powers  of  steam  were  substituted  for 
the  uncertain  aid  of  wind  and  water  in  moving  the  machinery 
of  manufactories. 

54.  America  may  boast  of  her  Godfrey,  whose  quadrant 
has  been  almost  as  serviceable,  as  the  compass,  to  navigation.; 
of  her  Franklin,  who  has  made  our  dwellings   comfortable 
within,  and  protected  them  from  the  lightning  of  heaven ;  of 
her  Whitney,  whose  cotton  gin  has  added  to  the  annual  pro 
duct  of  that  article  at  least  one  hundred  millions  of  pounds  ; 
of  her  Whittemore,  the  inventor  of  the  wonderful  machine  for 
making  cards  ;  of  her  Perkins,  the  inventor  of  the  nail  ma 
chine  ;  and  of  her  Fulton,  who  has  rendered  the  power  of 
steam  subservient  to  the  purposes  of  navigation. 

55.  But  the   United   States   have  produced  authors  who 
would  do  honor  even  to  any  other  nation.     The   style  of 
Franklin  is  perspicuous  and  pure ;  and  few  men  of  any  age 
or  country  have  contributed  more  by  their  writings,  to  en 
lighten  and  to  benefit  mankind.     The  histories  of  Marshall, 
jiamsay,  Belknap,  Williams,  and  the  Annals  of  Holmes,  are 
works  of  sterling  merit,  interesting,  and  instructive.     Among 
theological   writers,   Edvvards?   Hopkins,    Dwight,    Lathrop, 
Davies,  Kollock,  and  Buckmmster,  are  deservedly  eminent. 
And  as  a  novelist,  Brown  has  few  equals. 

56.  Many  of  the  political  writers  of  this  country  have  dis 
played  great  vigor  of  thought,  and  force  of  expression.     The 
pamphlets  and  state  papers  to  which  the  revolutionary  struggle 
gave  existence  ;  the  numbers  of  the  Federalist ;  the  official 
letters  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  secretary  of  state,  and  of  the  Ame 
rican  ministers  at  Ghent,  not  only 'display  intellectual  powers, 
but  possess  literary  merit,  of  the  highest  order.     Some  of  the 
best  writers  of  this  republic  have  not  been  the  authors  of 
books. 

57.  To  the  fine  arts  still  less  attention  has  been  paid  than 
to  literature  ;  but  the  neglect  is  to  be  attributed  rather  to  the 
deficiency  of  patronage  than  to  the  want  of  capacity  to  excel. 
Benjamin  West,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  presided  for  many 
years  over  the  Royal  Societr.  comprising  the  most,  eminent 


296"  APPENDIX. 

painters  of  Great  Britain.  In  portrait-painting,  Copley  and 
Stuart  have  acquired  a  high  reputation  ;  and  in  historical 
painting,  Trumbull  and  Alston  excel  The  United  States 
claim  only  the  honor  of  their  birth  ;  England  and  Italy  that 
of  patronizing  and  instructing  them. 

58.  RELIGION.     The  consequences  resulting  from  the  en 
joyment  of  religious  liberty  have  been  highly  favorable.     Free 
discussion  has  enlightened  the  ignorant,  disarmed  superstition 
of  its  dreadful  powers,  and  consigned  to  oblivion  many  erro 
neous  and  fantastic  creeds.     Religious  oppression,  and  the 
vindictive  feelings  it  arouses,  are  hardly  known.     Catholics 
and  Protestants  live  together  in  harmony ;  and  protestants 
yvho  disagree,  employ,  in  defending  their  own  doctrines,  and 
in  assailing  those  of  ther-r  antagonists,  the  weapons  only  of 
reason  and  eloquence. 

59.  In  the  New-England  states,  the  independents  or  con- 
^regationalists  constitute  the  most  numerous  denomination ; 
i  n  the  middle  states,  the  presbyterians  ;  and  in  the  southern, 
the  methodists.     Baptists,  episcopalians,  and  Roman  catholics, 
fire  found  in  all  the  states ;  but  in  Maryland  and  Louisiana, 
the  catholics  are  more  numerous  than  elsewhere.     Each  of 
these  sects  has  one  or  more  seminaries  of  learning,  in  which 
its  peculiar  doctrines  are  taught,  and  young  men  are  educated 
j'or  the  ministry.     Many  other  sects  exist,  but  reason,  less 
tolerant  than  the  laws,  is  gradually  diminishing  the  number. 

GO.  CHARACTER  AND  MANNERS.  Foreigners  have  asserted 
that  the  Americans  possess  no  national  character.  If  at  any 
period  this  assertion  has  been  true,  it  was  then  no  reproach. 
•In  its  youth,  a  nation  can  have  no  established  character. 
The  inhabitants  of  this  republic,  coming  from  every  quarter 
of  the  world,  speaking  many  different  languages,  dispersed 
over  a  vast  extent  of  territory,  could  not  imirfediately  assimi- 
hito  and  exhibit  those  few  prominent  traits,  which  nations  as 
wrll  as  individuals,  in  their  maturity,  display. 

01.  But  the  germ  of  a  national  character  has  always  existed. 
Tt  has  grown  with  our  growth,  and  is  gradually  Growing  into 
the  shade  those  unfavorable  and  discordant  traits,  which  have 
disfigured  and  partly  concealed  it  from  view.  Who,  that  has 
read  the  history  of  these  states,  has  not  perceived,  in  the  in 
habitants,  an  energy  of  purpose  capable  of  surmounting  all 
obstacles ;  a  spirit  of  enterprise,  that  leaves  nothing  useful 
imattempted ;  a  proud  sense  of  personal  dignity  and  indepen 
dence;  a  decided  preference  of  utility  before  show;  and  a 
Jove  of  knowledge  that  has  dispelled  ignorance  from  the  land? 
They  may  have  been  too  much  devoted  to  the  pursuit  of  gain  ; 
too  much  addicted  to  habits  of  intemperance;  too  much  in 
flated  with  national  vanity ;  bigoted  and  superstitious :  but 
these  traits  arc  now  less  apparent ;  they  are  constantly  melt 
ing  away,  and  those  more  noble  appearing  in  bolder  relief. 

62.  They  whose  wealth  or  talents  place  them  in  the  first 
rank  in  society,  are,  in  their  manners,  free  from  awkward 
ness,  formalitv. haujrtiiinr.ss.  and  ostentation;  but  thevdonot 


APPENDIX:,  29?" 

display  the  elegance  or  refinement  of  the  same  class  in  Europe. 
The  mass  of  the  people  are  serious,  shrewd,  inquisitive,  manly* 
.and  generally  respectful ;  but  they  know  little,  and  practise 
less,  of  the  ceremonies  of  formal  politeness.  To  foreigners, 
accustomed  to  the  servility  of  the  lower  classes  in  Europe, 
they  doubtless  appear  rough  and  uncourtly  ;  and  many 
fashionable  tourists  may  have  had  their  feelings  needlessly- 
wounded,  and  their  delicacy  shocked ;  but  when  respectfully 
treated,  they  display  native  politeness,  and  generosity  of  sen 
timent.  Time  will  remove  the  grosser  delects ;  but  may  it 
never,  by  polishing  too  deeply,  impair  that  strength  of  charac 
ter,  which  is  essential  to  the  permanence  of  our  republicaa 
institutions. 

63.  A  review  of  the  rapid  progress  of  the  United  States  in 
population,  wealth,   and  power ;  a  survey  of  their  present 
physical  and  moral  condition  ;  and  a  comparison  of  them,  in 
either  respect,  with  other  nations,  cannot  fail  to  give  to  an 
American  citizen  an  elevated  conception  of  his  own  country 
and  to  justify  the  loftiest  anticipations  of  the  future. 

64.  In  a  period  of  thirty  years,   ending  with    1820,  the 
population   of    the   republic   increased    from   3,893,835,    to 
9,642,150  ;    it  consequently  doubles  in  less  than  twenty-five 
rears.     In  Great  Britain  me  population  does  not  double  in 
less  than  eighty  years ;  and  in  that  country  the  increase  is 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  rapid  as  in  any  other  country  in  Europe. 

65.  The  augmentation  of  wealth  and  power  cannot  be  so 
easily  ascertained.     It  is  the  opinion  of  many,  well  qualified 
to  judge,  that  it  has  been  still  more  rapid ;  and  when  the  in 
crease  of  our  exports,  which  in  the  same  period  advanced  from 
nineteen  to  sixty-five  millions  ;  when  the  growth  of  our  cities 
.nnd  villages ;  the   increase  of  our  manufacturing  establish 
ments,  of  our  national  and  mercantile  navy,  of  our  fortifica 
tions  and  other  means  of  defence  ;  the  extent  of  our  internal 
improvements  ;  and,  beyond  all,  the  extensive  territories  re 
claimed  from  a  state  of  nature  and  made  .productive  and  valu- 
nble,  are  adverted  to,  that  opinion  will  not  appear  unfounded 
nor  extravagant. 

66.  Although  now  inferior  to  the  principal  nations  erf  the 
old  world,  yet  but  a  short  period  will  elapse  before  the  United 
States,  should  their  progress  hereafter  be  the  same  that  it  has 
been,  will  overtake  and  pass  them.     Their  great  natural  ad 
vantages  will  continue   to  urge  them   forward.     Extensive 
tracts  of  fertile  land  yet  remain  vacant  of  inhabitants  ;  the  por 
tions  already  settled  are  capable  of  supporting  a  much  more 
numerous   population ;  new  roads  and  new  canals  will  give 
greater  activity  to  internal  commerce,  and  open  new  fields  to 
the  untiring  industry  and  enterprise  of  man ;  and,  a  small 
part  only  being  required  by  the  government,  nearly  the  whole* 
annual  income  will  be  added  to  the  general  capital,  augment^ 
•ing  it  in  a  compound  ratio. 

<J7.  That  thcvic  splendid  anticipations  ore  not  the,  sngges* 


'29S  APPENDIX. 

tions  of  national  vanity,  the  history  of  the  past  sufficiently 
proves.  Yet  their  fulfilment  depends,  in  a  great  degree,  upon 
the  future  conduct  of  the  people  themselves ;  upon  their  ad 
herence  to  the  principles  of  their  fathers ;  upon  the  preserva 
tion  of  free  political  institutions,  of  industrious,  frugal,  and 
moral  habits ;  and,  above  all,  upon  the  universal  diffusion  of 
knowledge. 

68.  This  truth  should  sink  deep  in  the  hearts  of  the  old  and 
the  young.  The  citizens  of  this  republic  should  never  forget 
the  awful  responsibilities  resting  upon  them.  They  constitute 
the  oldest  nation  on  this  western  hemisphere,  the  first  on  the 
list  .of  existing  republics.  They  stand  forward,  the  object  of 
hatred  to  some,  of  admiration  to  many,  of  wonder  to  all ;  and 
an  impressive  example  to  the  people  of  every  country.  To 
them  is  committed  an  experiment,  successful  hitherto,  the  final 
result  of  which  must  have  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  des 
tiny  of  mankind ;  if  favorable  and  happy,  the  whole  civilized 
world  will  be  free ;  if  adverse,  despotism  and  darkness  will 
ngain  overshadow  it.  May  they  ever  be  sensible  of  the  vast 
importance  of  their  example.  May  they  never  betray  their 
sacred  trust. 


TO 

HAUE'S  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


Qs.  Pg. 

1  7  Was  the  continent  of  America  known  to  the  ancients  ? 

2  —  What  was  the  object  of  the  voyages  of  discovery  made  in  the  15CU 

century  ? 

3  —  Who  was  a  distinguished  navigator  of  that  age  1 

4  —  Where  was  he  born  ? ' 

5  —  What  incidents  led  him  to  think  that  he  could  reach  the  East  Indies 

by  sailing  west  ? 
0    8  To  whom  did  he  apply  for  assistance  1 

7  —  Who  became  his  friend  and  patron  ? 

8  —  When  did  he  set  sail  ?  From  what  port  1- 

9  —  What  course  did  he  steer  1 

10  —  What  phenomenon  was  first  observed  during  his  voyage  ? 

11  9  How  did  his  crews  behave  ?  What  did  they  threaten  to  do '? 

12  —  How  did  he  appease  them? 

13  —  When  was  land  discovered? 

14  10  What  other  islands  did  he  discover  and  visit  ? 
]  5  —  How  was  he  received  on  his  return  ? 

16  —  Who  first  discovered  the  continent?  When? 

17  11  Upon  what  did  the  English  found  their  claim  to  the  eastern  portion 

of  North  America  ? 
38  —  From  whom  does  the  continent  derive  its  name  ? 

19  __  Who  is  supposed  to  have  entered  the  harbor  of  New- York? 

20  —  What  induced  Coligni  to  attempt  a  settlement' in  America .- 

21  —  What  was  the  result  ? 

22  12  By  whom  was  the  second  attempt  made?  When?  Where? 

23  —  Wa .3  it  fortunate  ? 

24  13  On  what  occasion  was  the  spirit  of  adventure  revived? 

25  —  Who  most  encouraged  the  scheme  of  colonization  ? 

26  14  What  companies  were  formed  ? 

27  —  What  territory  was  granted  to  each  ? 

28  —  What  privileges  were  secured  to  the  emigrants  '.' 
29.  _  When  was  Quebec  settled?  By  whom? 

CHAPTER  I. 

30  15  By  what  company  was  Virginia  settled  • 

31  —  How  many  persons  were  sent  over  ? 

32  —  What  distinguished  man  was  among  them  7 

33  —  Relate  the  principal  events  of  his  lite. 

34  16  When  did  the  adventurers  land?  At  what  place  7 

35  —  Who  was  elected  president  ?  Who  was  excluded  ? 

36  —  What  was  the  character  of  the  aboriginal  inhabitants? 

37  17  What  happened  to  captain  Smith  ? 

38  —  By  whom  was  he  preserved  from  death? 

39  —  While  absent,  to  what  number  had  the  settlers  been  reduced  ? 

40  18  How  many  came  with  Newport  ? 

41  —  How  did  Smith  employ  himself? 


2  QUE8TI6N& 

Qs.Pg. 

42  19  Was  he  cnosen  president  ? 

43  19  Relate  what  afterwards  occurred  1 

44  —  What  induced  Smith  to  return  to  England  7 

45  —  What  was  the  consequence  ? 

46  20  Who  were  successively  appointed  governors  J 

47  —  For  what  purpose  was  Pokahontas  taken  ? 

48  —  What  is  related  concerning  her? 

49  21  What  was  the  object  of  Argal's  expedition  in  1613? 

50  —  What  did  he  accomplish  ? 

61  —  What  instructions  were  given  by  king  James?* 

52  —  When  did  governor  Yeardly  arrive  ? 

f?3  —  What  did  he  do  which  gave  joy  to  the  people  ? 

54  22  In  what  state  was  the  colony  at  this  period  ? 

55  23  What  misfortune  happened  to  it  ? 

*tf>  —  How  much  was  the  number  of  settlers  reduced  ? 

57  —  Did  the  Virginians  depose  Harvey  1 

58  —  What  did  king  Charles  do? 
.09  —  Who  succeeded  Harvey  ? 

fiO  —  Whom  did  the  Virginians  favor,  tire  king  or  parliamcrifT 
(il  24  What  did  the  parliament  do  ? 

02  —  What  did  thfe  Virginians  do  on  the  death  of  Matthews? 
(53  —  Why  were  the  people  disaffected? 

64  —  Who  was  the  leader  of  the  insurgents  ? 

65  25  Relate  the  incidents  of  the  rebellion. 

06  26  What  was  the  conduct  of  Berkeley  towards  the  rebels  ' 
r»7  —  What  was  the  population  in  1088'' 

68  —  How  was  the  colony  governed  ? 

<i9  —  What  course  did  the  representatives  pursue  in  relation  to  slavery  ? 

CHAPTER  II 

1 0  2f>  To  what  company  was  Massachusetts  granted  ? 

71  27  When  were  the  first  men  sent  over  left? 

72  —  When  and  why  did  they  return  to  England? 

73  —  By  whom  was  the  coast  of  Massachusetts  surveyed? 

74  —  In  that  age  what  was  the  maxim  of  all  ecclesiastics  and  politicians  ? 

75  28  What  causes  induced  Mr.  Robinson's  congregation  to  remove  to 

Holland  ? 
70  —  To  what  company  did  they  apply  for  a  grant  of  land? 

77  —  To  what  part  were  they  carried  ?  •  t 

78  —  What  did  they  do  before  leaving  the  ship  ? 

79  —  When  did  they  land  ? 

80  29  How  many  perished  during  the  winter  ? 
31  _  What  was  the  settlement  called  ? 

82  —  What  was  the  population  in  1630? 

83  _  What  directed  the  attention  of  others  to  New-England  ? 

84  —  What  association  was  formed  in  1627  ? 

85  —  Of  what  company  did  they  obtain  a  grant? 

86  —  Where  did  the  people  they  sent  out  land  ? 

87  —  What  were  the  provisions  of  the  charter  they  obtained; 

88  30  What  town  was  next  settled  1 

89  —  What  was  the  first  object  of  their  attention? 
<.»0  —  What  number  perished  before  spring  ? 

ill  —  At  what  time  was  Boston  founded  ? 

02  31  What  distinguished  lady  fell  a  victim*? 

03  —  How  many  perished  before  December? 

01  —  What  was  one  great  object  of  the  puritans'? 

95  —  What  ordinance  was  passed  in  1631? 

%  _  Were  the  Indians  numerous,  at  that,  time,  in  MbW-E 

07  S2  Wjien  were  representatives  first  rUo.szn  T- 


.      . 

98  32  Who  was  banished  from  Salem?  For  what  cause? 

99  —  What  distinguished  emigrants  came  in  1635? 

100  —  Relate  their  history. 

101  33  Who  were  detained  by  king  Charles  ? 

102  —  What  was  the  cause  of  the  first  war  with  the  Indians* 

103  34  With  what  tribe  was  it  carried  on  ? 

304  —  Which  party  was  victorious  ? 

305  35  What  cause  put  a  stop  to  emigration  ? 

106  —  In  what  year  did  the  colonies  form  a  league  ? 

107  36  What  is  said  concerning  the  representatives  and  assistants  ? 
J08  —  Which  did  New-England  favor,  the  king  or  parliament  ? 

309  —  What  propositions  did  Cromwell  make  to  the  colonies  ? 

310  —  When  was  New-Hampshire  incorporated  with  Massachusetts? 

When  was  Maine  ? 

111  S7  What  law  was  made  against  Quakers? 

112  —  What  distinguished  individuals  came  to  New-England  about  tlrS 

time? 

313  —  How  were  they  received?  Whore  did  they  reside? 
.114  39  What  law  was  enacted  by  England  in  1663? 

115  _  What  measure  was  adopted  by  the  king  in  1664  ? 

116  —  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  commissioners  ? 

117  40  How  many  towns  and  inhabitants  did  New-England  contain  at  tlie 

end  of  50  years  from  the  settlement  of  Plymouth  ? 

318  —  What  were  the  causes  of  Philip's  war? 

319  41  Where  were  the  first  acts  of  hostility  committed? 

320  —  Did  the  colonists  sufffer  much  injury  from  the  savages?  j} 
.121  —  In  what  manner  was  the  war  carried  on  ? 

322  42  What  was  the  result  of  the  great  battle  fought  December  18? 

323  —  What  feelings  did  Philip  exhibit  ? 

324  —  What  was  his  fate? 

J25  43  What  losses  were  sustained  in  this  war? 

126  —  When  was  New-Hampshire  made  a  separate- colony  ? 

127  —  For  what  purpose  was  Edward  Randolph  sent  over : 

128  —  What  was  done  in  relation  to  the  charter  ?  vv 

329  44  What  was  the  character  and  conduct  of  Andross? 

330  —  How  did  the  people  treat  Andross  and  his  adherents? 

331  45  What  was  the  result  of  the  expedition  to  Canada? 
J32  —  How  did  Massachusetts  pay  her  troops? 

133  —  What  were  the  provisions  of  the  new  charter? 

334  —  Who  was  the  first  governor  under  the  new  charter? 

335  —  What  distinguished  the  commencement  of  his  administration? 

336  46  What  causes  produced  the  delusion  ? 

337  —  How  many  charged  with  witchcraft  were  executed? 
138  47  What  law  was  passed  at  the  first  session? 

339  _  What  war  existed  at  this  period? 

140  —  When  was  Deerfield  attacked? 

141  —  How  many  were  killed  and  made  prisoners? 

142  48  Who  were  among  the  prisoners? 

143  —  How  were  they  treated? 

344  —  What  was  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare ' 
145  _  What  expedition  was  fitted  out  in  1707? 
346  —  What  in  1710?  What  was  accomplished? 

147  —  What  expedition  was  fitted  out  in  171T  ? 

148  49  What  misfortune  occurred  to  the  fleet? 

149  _  What  was  the  event  of  the  expedition  1 

1 50  —  When  was  peace  concluded  ? 

351  —  What  was  the  effect  of  this  war  upon  New-England ? 

352  —  Who  was  appointed  governor  in  1716? 

153  50  What,  question  agitated  the  people  when  he  arrived? 

154  —  What  act  of  his  displeased  the  assembly? 


*  QUESTIONS. 

155  50  Whose  conduct  did  the  people  approve  ? 

156  —  What  vote  was  passed  respecting  the  governor's  salary  • 

157  —  What  instructions  did  the  king  give? 

158  —  Did  the  assembly  comply  ? 

159  _  What  steps  did  the  governor  take  ? 

160  51  Who  was  the  next  governor  ? 

161  —  What  took  place  between  him  and  the  assembly  ? 

162  —  How  was  the  controversy  suspended? 
1G3  52  Who  succeeded  governor  Burnett? 

164  —  How  was  the  long  controversy  terminated  ? 
105  —  Who  was  appointed  governor  in  1740? 

166  —  What  event  occurred  in  1744? 

167  —  From  what  port  were  privateers  fitted  out  ? 

168  —  What  expedition  was  concerted  hi  1745  ? 

169  —  By  whom  was  it  proposed  ? 

;  70  53  Did  the  General  Court  in  the  end  agrco  to  it  > 

71  —  What  colonies  mrnished  assistance? 

72  —  What  naval  force  co-operated  ? 

73  54  What  fortunate  events  occurred  ? 

74  —  What  was  the  result  of  the  expedition  ? 

;  75  55  What  measure  did  France  adopt  the  next  summer  .; 
376  —  At  what  time  was  peace  concluded? 

177  —  What  were  the  terms  of  this  peace  ? 

178  —  'What  became  of  the  bills  of  credit .' 

CHAPTER  III. 

179  55  Which  was  the  parent  of  the  New-England  colonies  ? 

180  —  To  whom  were  the  first  grants  made  in  New-Hampshire  '• 

181  56  When  were  the  first  settlements  made?  Where 7 

182  —  When  was  the  first  house  built  at  Portsmouth? 

183  —  Of  whom  did  Wheelright  purchase  land  1 

184  —  What  town  did  he  found  ? 

185  —  Wiien  was  civil  government  established  in  Dover,  1'ortsrnoulh, 

and  Exeter  ? 

186  —  What  steps  did  these  towns  take  in  1641  ? 

187  —  Of  whom  did  the  emigrants  purchase  lands 

188  —  What  settlements  suffered  in  Philip's  war .? 

189  _  When  was  New-Hampshire  imde  a  separate  province? 

190  —  What  law  was  passed  in  1680  ? 

191  57  What  disputes  arose  on  the  arrival  of  Mason  ? 

192  —  Who  was  appointed  governor  aller  Andross  was  deposed? 

193  —  Did  this  colony  suffer  much  from  Indian  wars? 
394  —  What  town  was  surprised  in  1089  ? 

195  —  Give  an  account  of  that  event. 

396  58  In  what  year  was  Londonderry  settled?  By  whom? 

107  _  What  did  they  introduce  ? 

1 98  59  Why  did  J.  T.  Mason  claim  the  lands  of  his  ancestors " 

199  —  TO  whom  did  he  convey  them  ? 

200  —  What  did  they  do  to  silence  opposition  ? 

201  —  How  were  the  Masonian  lands  granted  .- 

CHAPTER  IV. 

202  59  To  whom  was  Connecticut  first  granted  ' 

203  —  How  far  westward  did  the  grant  extend  1 

204  —  By  whom  was  a  fort  erected  at  Hartford  ? 

i;i!5  —  By  whom  was  a  trading  house  erected  at  Windsor 

206  60  By  whom  was  Weathersfield  and  Windsor  sottlerl  ? 

207  —  For  what  purpose  dirt  Winthrop  come  frpin  England  : 


Us.  Pg. 

208  60  Did  the  Dutch  attempt  to  molest  him  ? 

209  —  What  persons  laid  the  foundation  of  Hartford  ? 

210  —  Whose  authority  did  the  first  emigrants  acknowledge? 

211  —  When  did  the  freemen  form  a  constitution? 

212  —  State  the  substance  of  this  constitution. 

213  61  By  whom  was  Say  brook  settled?  Whence  the  name  3 

214  —  What  did  Fenwick  transfer  to  the  General  Court  ? 

215  —  By  what  persons  was  New-Haven  founded  ? 

216  —  Was  it  a  distinct  colony  ? 

217  —  By  what  laws  were  they  first  governed  ? 

218  62  With  whom  had  both  colonies  disputes? 

219  —  How  was  partition  made  in  1650? 

220  —  Did  the  Dutch  continue  friendly  ? 

221  —  What  did  Connecticut  propose  to  the  confederacy? 

222  —  What  was  the  conduct  of  Massachusetts? 
233  63  What  did  Cromwell  do  ? 

224  —  Did  the  inhabitants  obtain  a  charter  ? 

225  —  W'hat  territory  did  it  comprehend  ? 

226  —  Did  New-Haven  willingly  consent  to  a  union  1 
£27  —  When  were  the  two  colonies  united? 

228  64  What  circumstances  occurred  when  Andross  demanded  the  charter  2 

229  —  Did  Connecticut  retain  her  charter? 

230  65  What  demand  did  Fletcher  make  of  Connecticut  ? 

231  —  How  was  he  treated? 

232  —  When  was  Yale  College  founded? 

233  —  When  was  Saybrook  platform  adopted  ? 

234  —  What  did  this  platform  relate  to  ? 

235  66  What  cause  tended  to  preserve  the  peace  of  Connecticut  ? 

CHAPTER  V. 

236  66  When  was  Rhode  Island  settled?  By  whom? 

237  —  Why  was  he  banished  from  Massachusetts  ? 

238  —  What  did  he  call  the  place  where  he  settled? 

239  —  What  regulations  did  he  adopt  ? 

240  —  Who  repaired  to  Rhode  Island  in  1638? 

241  67  Did  Rhode  Island  apply  to  be  admitted  into  the  league  ? 

242  —  What  was  the  decision  of  the  commissioners  ? 

243  —  Did  Rhode  Island  consent  to  the  terms  ? 

244  —  When  was  the  first  general  assembly  held  ? 

245  —  When  did  the  colony  obtain  a  charter  ? 

246  —  What  were  the  provisions  of  this  charter  ? 

217  —  What  law  was  passed  relative  to  the  quakers? 

218  —  What  secured  the  colony  exemption  from  Indian  hostility' 

219  —  What  was  the  population  in  1730?    In  1761  ? 

250  —  When  was  Brown  university  ibundcd? 

CHAPTER  VI. 

251  68  By  whom  was  New- York  discovered  ?  When  ? 

252  —  In  what  service  did  Hudson  sail? 

253  —  By  whom  and  when  was  a  fort  erected  near  Albany,  and  trading 

houses  at  New- York  ? 

254  —  What  was  Albany  then  called?    What  was  New- York? 

255  —  What  event  occurred  soon  alter  ? 

«>56  —  When  and  where  was  Fort  Amsterdam  erected  ? 

i!57  —  To  what  company  did  the  republic  of  Holland  make  a  grant  ? 

253  —  How  far  did  the  grant  extend? 

259  —  What  was  the  territory  called  ? 

2W  —  WJjAre  did  th»-  1>uMi  «»rect  t^rts  in  1622  ? 


Qs.  Pg. 

261  68  With  whom  did  this  produce  quarrels  ? 

2fi2  —  When  did  war  break  out  between  the  Dutch  and  Indians  * 

263  69  Who  commanded  the  Dutch  troops  ? 

284  —  In  what  place  was  a  battle  fought  ? 

265  —  Who  agreed  on  a  line  of  partition  between  the  Dutch  and  English? 

266  —  To  whom  did  the  king  of  England  grant  New- York? 

267  —  What  measure  was  thereupon  taken  ? 

268  —  Did  the  expedition  sent  out  succeed  ? 

269  —  What  names  were  changed  ? 

270  —  Who  assumed  the  government  of  the  country? 

271  —  When  was  New- York  made  a  city? 

272  70  What  event  happened  in  1673  ?  .- 

273  —  How  long  did  the  Dutch  retain  possession  ? 

274  —  Whom  did  the  duke  of  York  appoint  governor? 

275  —  To  what  religious  sect  did  both  belong  ? 

276  —  When  was  the  first  assembly  held  ? 

277  —  By  what  people  was  the  interior  of  New- York  inhabited  $ 

278  —  Of  whom  were  they  the  allies  I 

279  —  Who  led  an  army  against  them  ? 

280  71  What  was  he  obliged  to  do  ? 

281  —  What  Indian  chief  addressed  the  French  governor* 

282  —  Recite  his  speech. 

283  72  What  effect  had  this  speech  on  the  French  governor  ? 

284  —  Why  was  the  duke  of  York  disliked  when  he  became  king  1 

285  —  What  encouraged  the  disaffected  ? 

286  73  What  measures  did  Leisler  and  Milborne  undertake? 

287  —  What  did  Bayard  and  Courtlandt  do? 

288  —  What  authority  did  Leisler  assume?  Why?  * 

289  74  What  did  Milborne  effect  ? 

290  —  What  parties  were  despatched  against  the  English? 

291  —  Describe  the  attack  of  Schenectady. 

292  75  What  was  done  to  avenge  these  barbarities  ? 

293  —  To  what  was  the  failure  of  the  expedition  attributed  £ 

294  —  Whom  did  king  William  appoint  governor? 

295  —  What  was  the  character  of  this  governor? 

296  —  What  sentence  was  passed  on  Leisler  and  Milborne  7 

297  76  What  was  their  fate  ? 

298  —  By  whom  were  the  French  settlements  attacked? 

299  —  Who  was  appointed  governor  in  1692? 

300  —  What  object  was  he  desirous  of  effecting  ? 

SOI  —  What  took  place  in  consequence  of  his  recommendation? 

302  77  When  was  the  earl  of  Bellamont  appointed  governor? 

303  —  In  what  measure  did  he  engage  ? 

304  —  Relate  the  conduct  and  fate  of  captain  Kid. 

305  —  Into  what  parties  were  the  people  divided  ? 

306  —  When  was  lord  Cornbury  appointed  governor  I 

307  —  What  were  his  parentage  and  character? 

308  —  In  what  manner  did  he  behave  ? 

309  78  What  followed  his  removal  from  office  ? 

310  —  What  resolution  was  passed? 

311  —  In  what  year  did  governor  Hunter  arrive  ? 

312  —  What  people  came  with  him? 

HI 3  —  What  is  the  character  of  their  descendants? 

V314  —  What  dispute  arose  between  the  house  and  council  * 

315  —  What  enterprise  was  projected  in  1709?  In  1711? 

316  79  What  was  the  result  of  the  latter? 

317  —  Did  the  people  justify  their  representatives  ? 

318  —  State  the  progress  and  termination  of  the  dispute  between  tl  * 

house  and  council. 
3?  9  i—  Who  swrrroetfad  governor  Hunter -• 


QUESTION 

Qs.  Pg. 

320  79  What  projects  had  the  French  then  in  view  .- 

321  —  What  did  governor  Burnet  do  to  defeat  it  ? 

322  80  When  was  the  assembly,  elected  in  1716,  dissolved? 

323  —  What  fort  did  the  French  erect  while  Van  Dam  was  governor  ? 

324  _  Who  succeeded  Van  Dam? 

325  —  What  prosecution  was  instigated  by  governor  Cosby? 

326  —  What  honor  was  conferred  on  one  of  his  defenders  ? 
337  —  When  was  Clark  appointed  lieutenant-governor  ? 

32S  81  What  dispute  was  revived  between  him  and  the  Assembly? 

329  —  Which  party  was  triumphant  at  the  next  election  ? 

330  —  Recite  the  address  of  the  house  to  the  governor. 

331  —  What  did  he  say  in  his  next  speech? 

332  82  What  resolve  did  the  house  pass  ? 

333  —  What  plot  was  supposed  to  be  concerted  about  this  time " 

334  —  What  was  the  supposed  object  of  the  plot  ? 

335  —  How  many  were  burned  ?    Hung  ?    Transported? 

336  83  What  did  Clark  allude  to  in  his  speech? 

337  —  When  was  George  Clinton  appointed  governor  .- 

338  —  What  happened  in  1745  ? 
330  —  When  did  peace  take  place  1 

CHAPTER  VII. 

340  84  By  whom  was  New-Jersey  settled  ?    When  ?    Where  : 

341  —  When  and  where  did  the  Swedes  and  Finns  settle  ? 

342  _  What  happened  in  1655? 

£43  _  What  territory  did  the  Dutch  possess  ? 

344  —  How  was  it  taken  from  them  ? 

345  85  To  whom  was  it  conveyed  ? 

346  —  To  whom  did  the  Duke  convey  New- Jersey  ; 

347  _  w'hy  was  it  so  called  ? 

348  —  Who  was  the  first  governor  ? 

349  _  What  was  the  origin  of  the  disputes  that  arose  ? 

350  —  Did  the  people  revolt  ?    Did  they  submit? 

351  —  To  whom  did  Berkeley  dispose  of  his  right? 

352  —  Who  were  appointed  trustees  to  sell  it  ? 

353  —  What  partition  was  agreed  on  ? 

3;34  —  Was  a  new  patent  granted  to  the  Duke? 

355  86  On  what  did  Andross  insist  ? 

356  _  What  did  he,  do  ? 

357  —  Recite  the  address  to  the  commissioners. 

358  —  What  was  their  decision  ? 

359  87  To  whom  was  East-Jersey  transferred  in  1682 .' 
;WO  —  Who  was  appointed  governor  over  it  ? 

•}fi\  —  By  whom  were  the  Jerseys  reunited? 

362  —  When  was  Princeton  College  founded  ? 

363  —  What  was  then  the  number  of  inhabitants  ? 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

354  87  By  whom  was  Delaware  first  settled  ? 

365  88  What  did  they  call  the  country  ? 

366  —  Where  did  they  seat  themselves  ? 

367  —  Why  and  where  did  they  build  forts? 

368  —  Where  did  the  Dutch  build  a  fort  ? 

369  —  In  what  manner  did  the  Swedes  gain  possession  of  it ? 

370  —  What  course  did  governor  Stuyvesant  pursue  ? 

371  —  How  long  did  the  Dutcli  retain  possession? 

372  —  What  purchases  did  William  Penn  make  ? 

37H  —  Wh<«  name  was  given  to  the  tracts  purchased? 
A.  A.  2 


Qs.  Pg. 

374  88  To  what  colony  where  they  united  '.- 

3.75  —  \Vhen  did  a  separation  take  place  ? 

CHAPTER  IX. 

376  89  Who  was  the  founder  of  Pennsylvania  ? 

377  —  To  what  religious  sect  did  he  belong  ' 

378  —  Why  was  the  country  granted  to  him  .' 

379  —  At  what  price  was  land  sold  ? 

380  —  At  what  rate  was  it  rented  ? 

381  —  In  what  year  did  the  settlers  leave  England ". 

382  90  What  position  did  they  select  ibr  a  settlement  1 

3S3  —  What  was  the  object  of  Penn's  frame  of  government  ? 

384  —  What  people,  and  how  many,  did  he  find  upon  the  "  territories"  I 

385  —  Where  was  the  first  assembly  held? 

386  —  What  city  did  Penn  found  1 

387  91  For  what  qualities  are  the  Pennsylvanians  distinguished  ? 

'   388  —  What  party  did  Penn  adhere  to  at  the  time  of  the  English  revo 
lution  ? 

389  —  How  was  he  treated  ? 

390  92  Did  he  regain  the  favor  of  the  king  ? 

391  —  When  did  he  again  visit  Pennsylvania  ? 

392  —  What  took  place  in  1701  ? 

393  —  How  was  the  executive  authority  afterwards  administered? 

394  —  What  caused  the  most  irritation  ? 

395  —  Did  the  colony  prosper  ? 

396  —  What  took  place  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution? 
I>97  —  What  sum  was  paid  in  discharge  of  quit  rents  ? 

CHAPTER  X. 

393  93  By  whom  was  Maryland  founded  ? 

399  —  To  what  religious  sect  did  he  belong  7 

400  —  After  whom  Was  the  colony  named  ? 

401  —  Who  was  appointed  the  first  governor  ? 

402  —  When  did  the  first  settlers  arrive  ?    Where  ? 

403  —  What  land  did  they  purchase  ? 

404  —  What  circumstances  favored  the  rapid  population  of  the  colony'* 
4.05  94  When  and  how  was  a  house  of  assembly  formed  ? 

400  —  What  alteration  was  made  in  1650  ? 

407  —  What  fact  is  honorable  to  Lord  Baltimore  and  his  associates  V 

408  —  What  disturbance  was  produced  ?    By  whom  1 
<?09  95  What  was  the  result  of  the  disturbances? 

410  —  What  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  victorious  party  ? 

411  —  What  was  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  1000? 

412  —  When  did  lord  Baltimore  die? 

413  —  What  was  his  character  ? 

414  —  What  occurred  in  1689  ? 

415  96  What  directions  did  king  William  give  ? 

410  —  When  was  the  proprietor  restored  to  his  rights  ? 

417  —  What  occurred  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution? 

CHAPTER  XI. 

418  96  What  territory  was  granted,  in  1630,  to  Sir  Robert  Heath  ? 

419  —  By  what  persons  was  a  settlement  formed  north  of  Albemarle 

sound? 

420  —  What  settlement  was  made  in  1661  ?    By  whom? 

421  97  What  grant  was  made  in  1663?  .-  * 
423  —  What  assurances  were  given  to  emigrants  ?        '  - ' 


.     . 

423  97  Who  prepared  a  constitution  for  the  colony « 

424  —  What  were  the  provisions  of  this  constitution? 

425  —  Was  it  acceptable  to  the  inhabitants  1 

426  —  What  settlement  was  made  in  1670? 

427  —  In  which  of  the  Carolinas,  as  now  divided,  was  it  made  1 

428  98  What  was  the  character  and  conduct  of  Seth  Sothel? 

429  —  When  was  the  constitution  of  Locke  abrogated  ? 

430  —  How  were  the  two  provinces  afterwards  governed  ? 

431  _  What  emigrants  came  in  1707  ?    In  1710? 

432  —  What  calamity  fell  upon  them? 

433  99  Whither  did  the  Tuscaroras  emigrate! 

434  —  What  proceedings  took  place  in  1729  ? 

4,"55  —  In  what  part  of  North-Carolina  did  the  settlements  increase  most 
rapidly  ? 

CHAPTER  XII. 

436  100  When  was  the  first  settlement  made  at  Port  Royal? 

437  —  When  was  old  Charleston  founded  ? 

438  —  When  did  the  freemen  elect  representatives  ? 

439  —  When  did  they  meet  to  elect  them  ? 

440  —  Whence  did  emigrants  come? 

441  —  When  was  the  present  city  of  Charleston  founded? 

442  —  What  did  the  Proprietors  direct  in  regard  to  the  French  protes- 

tants  ? 
413    —  Was  opposition  made  ?    By  whom? 

444  101  What  did  these  protestants"  do  ? 

445  —  Why  was  John  Archdale  sent  over  ? 
440    _  what  did  he  effect  ? 

447  —  What  did  Granville  and  Moore  attempt? 

448  —  What  law  was  passed  ? 

449  10'4  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  lords  and  the  queen? 

450  —  What  expeditions  were  undertaken  in  1702  ? 

451  _  what  occurred  in  1706 1    What  in  1715? 

452  103  What  sufferings  were  occasioned  by  the  war  with  the  Indians  ? 

453  —  What  measure  did  the  assembly  adopt  ? 

454  —  What  emigrants  were  induced  to  come  ? 

455  —  What  was  their  fate  ? 

456  104  What  occurred  in  171 0? 

457  —  How  was  the  government  afterwards  administered? 

458  —  What  occurred  in  1738  ? 

459  105  Was  the  insurrection  quelled  ? 

460  .  —  From  what  countries  did  emigrants  come  ?- 

CHAPTEHiXIII. 

4G1  105  Where  is  Georgia  situated  ? 

462  —  What  project  was  concerted  in  1732  ? 

463  —  To  whom  wa.s  Georgia  granted  ? 

464  106  What  regulations  did  the  Trustees  provide  1  t   ' " 

465  —  When  did  the  first  emigrants  embark  ? 

466  —  Who  was  placed  at  their  head  ? 

467  —  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  Carolinians  ? 

468  —  How  many  emigrants  came  the  next  year? 

469  —  What  was  the  character  of  these  emigrants  ? 

470  —  What  offer  was  made  to  induce  a  different  class  to  emigrate  ' 

471  —  Where  did  the  Germans  settle  ?    Where  the  Scotch  ? 

472  —  Who  made  a  visit  to  Georgia  in  1736  ? 

473  —  What  was  his  object? 

474  —  Who  rame  two  vears  afterwards  ? 


XG  QUESTIONS. 

Qs.  Ps. 

475  107  In  1740,  liovf  many  emigrants  had  arrived , 

476  —    What  was  the  amount  of  benefactions  ? 

477  —    What  expedition  did  General  Oglethorpe  undertake  ? 

478  —    Was  it  successful  ? 

479  —    What  afterwards  occurred  ? 

480  108  What  event  occurred  when  Oglethorpe  was  marching  to  attack 

the  Spaniards  ? 

481  —    What  expedient  did  he  devise  ? 
'382  109  How  did  the  invasion  end? 

483  110  What  occurred  in  1754? 

484  —    What  products  were  cultivated  ? 

CHAPTER  XIV 

485  110  In  what  year  was  the  treaty  between  France  and  England  con 

cluded,  which  restored  tranquility  to  America  ? 

486  —  What  was  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  thirteen  colonies  at 

that  period  ? 

487  —  Where  were  the  English  settlements  ?  Where  the  French " 

488  —  \Vhat  design  had  the  French  in  view  ? 

<89    —  What  did  the  company  of  English  traders  do  1 
490    —  What  was  the  conduct  of  the  French  ? 

4'Jl  111  Whom  did  governor  Dinwiddie  send  as  messenger  to  the  Frencli 
commander  ? 

492  —  What  coarse  did  governor  Dinwiddie  take  on  receiving  the  answer! 

493  —  What  was  the  result  of  Washington's  expedition? 
<194    —  When  was  the  Albany  plan  of  union  formed  ? 
495    —  What  did  this  plan  provide  ? 

<HT)  112  Why  was  it  rejected  in  England?  Why  in  America? 

497  —  What  expeditions  were  resolved  upon  in  1755  ? 

498  —  Relate  the  object  and  result  of  tlie  expedition  to  Nova  Scotiu. 
493    —  Who  commanded  the  exppdition  against  Fort  DuQuesne? 

500  113  What  was  the  result  of  the  expedition? 

501  114  Who  commanded  the  expedition  against  Niagara? 
f>02    —  Was  he  successful  ? 

f>()3  115  Who  commanded  the  expedition  against  Crownpoint  ? 

f)04    —  Relate  what  happened  to  this  expedition. 

505  116  Was  it  abandoned? 

f)OG    — u  What  expeditions  were  proposed  the  next  year? 

507  — "Why  was  Massachusetts  disgusted  ?  How  appeased '? 

508  117  Who  was  appointed  to  succeed  Shirley? 

509  —  Had  war  been  declared  between  France  and  England.' 
f»10    —  Who  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  ? 

Ml    —  What  post  did  general  Montealm  take  ? 

M2  118  What  had  been  accomplished  in  this  campaign? 

513  —  To  what  did  the  ministry  direct  the  attention  of  lord  London? 

514  —  Did  he  effect  the  object  ? 

515  119  With  what  force  did  Montealm  besiege  Fort  William  Henry  ? 

516  —  Where  is  that  fort  situated? 

517  —  Who  was  sent  to  command  it  ? 

518  —  Relate  the  circumstances  and  result  of  the  siege. 

519  120  What  effect  had  these  disasters  upon  the  British  nation  ? 

520  —  Whom  did  the  king  appoint  prime  minister? 

521  —  What  expeditions  were  determined  on  for  the  next  campaign  t 

522  121  Who  commanded  that  against  Louisburg  \ 

523  —  Who  served  under  him  ? 

524  —  How  did  the  siege  terminate  ? 

525  —  What  was  the  result  of  the  attack  on  Ticonderoga? 

526  —  What  fort  did  colonel  Bradstreet  capture? 

627  122  Who  commanded  the  expedition  asainst  Du  Quesne  ? 


n 

<*s.  Pg.  *• 

528  122  What  disaster  occurred  to  it! 

529  —  Was  it  successful  ? 

530  —  Where  was  the  fort  situated? 

531  ._  What  was  the  plan  of  the  next  campaign  1 

532  —  What  was  the  event  of  the  expedition  against  Niagara  ? 

533  123  What  success  did  general  Amherst  meet  with  ? 

534  _  Who  commanded  the  expedition  againt  Quebec? 

535  —  What  was  the  condition  of  that  place? 

536  —  When  and  where  did  Wolf  land  his  army  ? 

537  —  Where  does  Quebec  stand  ? 

538  124  Where  did  a  battle  take  place?  What  the  event? 

539  —  What  plan  did  Wolf  then  form  ? 

540  125  In  what  manner  did  he  gain  the  heights  of  Abraham? 

541  _  What  did  Montcalm  then  do  ? 

542  —  What  was  the  fate  of  Wolf  ?  Of  Montcalm  ? 

543  126  What  was  the  consequence  of  the  battle? 

544  —  When  was  peace  concluded  ? 

549    —  What  did  France  cede  to  Great  Britain  I 

CHAPTER  XV. 

546  126  How  much  was  added  to  the  debt  of  England,  in  the  late  war? 

547  —  Whence  did  her  legislators  seek  assistance  ? 

548  127  What  relation  was  supposed  to  exist  between  the  mother  conn* 

try  and  her  colonies  ? 

549  _  What  restrictions  had  Great  Britain  imposed? 

550  —  What  law  was  enacted  in  1764  ? 

551  —  What  resolution  Was  proposed  ? 

552  —  In  what  courts  were  penalties  to  be  recovered  I 

553  —  What  measures  did  the  colonies  adopt  ? 

554  128  Recite  the  8th  and  9th  sections. 

555  129  When  was  the  stamp  act  proposed  ? 

556  —  What  language  was  used  in  supporting  it  1 

557  —  Recite  Col.  Barre's  speech. 

558  130  Did  the  bill  pass  ? 

559  —  What  took  place  in  Virginia  when  the  news  arrived  ? 
660  131  What  resolve  was  passed  in  Massachusetts  ? 

561    —  What  was  the  name  of  the  associations  formed  in  New-England  1 

662  —  What  occurred  in  Boston  ?    What  in  Newport  ? 

663  132  How  did  the  citizens  of  New- York  conduct? 

564  —  What  title  did  they  give  to  the  stamp  act  ? 

565  —  When  did  the  Congress  assemble  ? 

666    —  What  were  the  proceedings  of  this  Congress  ? 

567  —  What  agreements  were  adopted  ? 

568  133  What  was  proposed  in  the  British  parliament? 
509    _  what  did  Mr.  Grenville  say  ? 

670  —  Recite  William  Pitt's  speech. 

671  134  What  were  the  proceedings  of  parliament  ? 

572  135  Why  were  the  people  of  New-England  and  New- York  still  dis- 

sa'tisfied  ? 

573  —  For  what  cause  was  the  assembly  of  New- York  suspended  ? 

574  —  What  measure  was  adopted  in  June,  1767  ? 

575  —  What  course  did  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  pursue  ? 

576  —  How  were  they  punished  ? 

577  —  What  measures  were  then  adopted  in  Massachusetts  ? 

578  136  What  step  was  taken  by  General  Gage? 

579  137  State  what  resolutions  had  been  adopted  in  Parliament  ? 

580  —  What  resolutions  were  adopted  in  Virginia? 
£81    —  What  did  the  governor  do  ? 

532    —  What  ihfn  <msned  " 


Us.  Pg. 

583  137  State  what  occurred  in  State-Street,  Boston. 

584  138  To  what  place  were  the  troops  removed  ? 

585  —  What  trials  took  place  ? 

586  _  Who  defended  the  accused  ? 

587  —  Were  they  convicted  ? 

588  139  What  measure  did  parliament  adopt  ? 

589  —  What  alteration  was  made  in  the  nonimportation  agreements  ? 

CHAPTER  XVJ. 

590  139  What  causes  contributed  to  increase  the  discontent  which  previ 

ously  existed  jri  Massachusetts  1 

591  140  By  whom  were  committees  of  correspondence  recommended  I 

592  —  What  was  the  object  and  what  the  effect  of  them? 
693    —  What  letters  did  Dr.  Franklin  obtain  and  send  over  ? 
f>94    _  What  effect  did  these  letters  have  ? 

5,95    —  What  measure  did  the  East  India  Company  adopt  ? 
596    —  What  was  done  in  Philadelphia  and  New- York? 
597,141  What  was  the  state  of  public  feeling  in  Boston? 
.598    —  What  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  citizens  1 

599  —  What  proceedings  followed  ? 

600  —  Recite  Josiah  Quincy's  speech. 

601  142  What  was  done  with  the  tea  ? 

(702    —  What  acts  were  passed  by  parliament  ? 

603  143  How  was  the  first  day  of  June  observed  in  Virginia? 

604  —  What  spirit  was  displayed  by  the  citizens  of  Salem  ? 

605  —  What  was  recommended  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  ? 

606  144  When  did  the  delegates  meet  ? 

607  —  What  resolutions  did  they  adopt? 

608  —  What  effect  had  their  proceedings  on  public  sentiment  abroad? 

609  145  Recite  Mr.  Pitt's  speech. 

610  —  By  what  names  were  the  Americans  distinguished  ? 
f>  11  146  What  measures  did  governor  Gage  adopt? 

612  —  When  did  a  provincial  Congress  meet? 

613  —  What  conciliatory  proposition  was  adopted  in  parliament  ? 

614  —  Did  the  Americans  accept  it  ? 

fi!5  147  When  did  the  battle  of  Lexington  take  place  ? 

616  148  What  was  the  result  ?    What  the  effect  ? 

617  —  What  expedition  was  projected  in  Connecticut  ? 

618  149  By  whom  was  it  executed? 

619  —  What  posts  were  taken  ? 

620  —  WThat  British  generals  arrived  in  June  ? 

621  —  What  proclamation  was  issued  ? 

622  150  Why  did  the  provincials  resolve  to  occupy  Bunker  hill  I 
4i23    —  Who  commanded  the  provincial  troops  ? 

624  —  On  what  day  was  the  battle  fought  ? 

625  151  Relate  th«.  principal  events  of  the  battle? 
62<>.-152  How  many  Americans  were  killed  and  wounded? 

627  —  How  many  British  ? 

628  —  Did  the  result  dispirit  the  Americans  ? 
.629    —  What  eminent  man  was  killed  ? 

630  —  What  measures  were  adopted  by  the  continental  Congress  ? 

631  —  Who  was  chosen  commander-in-chief  ? 

632  153  What  other  officers  were  chosen  ? 

633  —  What  mode  was  adopted  to  defray  expenses  ? 

634  —  What  delaration  was  issued? 

635  —  Recite  the  extracts  inserted. 

<»36  154  To  what  place  did  Washington  repair': 
<>37  —  How  numerous  did  he  find  the  nrm<  ' 
•d??  f-W  Vp<rn  o^nrrod  in  Vi-ijinia? 


Us.  Pg. 

639  155  What  in  North-Carolina? 

640  156  What  in  South-Carolina  ?    What  in  Georgia  ? 

641  _  What  in  New-  York  ?    Who  was  made  governor  there  ? 
^42  —  What  resolution,  referring  to  him,  was  passed  by  Congress  1 

643  _^.  What  was  done  and  projected  in  1775  ? 

644  157  What  was  done  in  New-Hampshire  1 

645  —  What  transactions  occurred  in  October  ? 

646  158  How  was  the  new  army  to  be  raised  ? 

647  —  How  many  enlisted  ? 

618  —  What  works  were  erected  in  March  ? 

649  159  What  did  general  Howe  attempt  ? 

650  —  Failing  in  this,  what  did  he  then  determine  ? 

651  —  When  was  Boston  evacuated  ? 

652  —  To  what  place  did  the  American  army  proceed  ? 

653  —  Whither  did  the  British  fleet  steer? 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

654  159  How  many  expeditions  were  despatched  against  Canada  ? 

655  —  What  did  governor  Carleton  do  ? 

656  160  Who  proceeded  in  advance  ?    Why? 

657  —  On  whom  did  the  chief  command  devolve  1 

658  —  What  did  colonels  Allen  and  Brown  attempt  ? 

659  —  What  was  the  fate  of  Allen? 

660  161  What  fortunate  event  occurred  in  October  '.- 

661  —  What  other  victory  was  achieved? 

662  —  When  was  St.  John's  surrendered  ? 

603    —  To  what  place  did  Montgomery  then  repair  ? 

664  162  With  how  many  men  did  he  begin  his  march  to  Quebec?     * 

665  —  Who  commanded  the  other  expedition? 

666  —  How  many  did  it  consist  of  ? 

667  —  Describe  their  route? 

G68    —  Were  thoir  sufferings  great  ? 

669  163  When  did  they  arrive  at  the  French  settlements?' 

670  —  When  did  he  cross  the  river? 

671  —  Where  did  ho  encamp? 

672  —  When  did  Montgomery  arrive  ? 

673  —  To  what  did  their  united  force  amount  ?- 

674  164  How  strong  were  the  enemy  ? 

675  —  What  did  the  general  first  determine  ? 
670    —  What  disease  broke  out  in  the  camp  ? 

677  —  What  was  proposed  and  resolved  upon  '; 

678  165  When  was  the  city  assaulted? 

679  —  What  disastrous  event  occurred  ? 
080    —  What  happened  to  Arnold  ? 

6S1  —  Who  assumed  the  command? 

682  1C6  How  did  the  attack  terminate  ? 

<>S3  —  What  was  the  amount  of  the  American  loss  .' 

684  —  Where  was  Montgomery's  monument  placed  •' 

6S5  167  How  far  from  the  city  did  Arnold  encamp  ? 

686  —  When  did  general  Thomas  arrive  from  Roxbury  ? 

(iS7  —  What  was  then  done  ? 

688  —  To  what  place  did  the  Americans  retreat? 

689  168  What  occurred  at  the  Cedars  ? 
600    —  Who  succeeded  general  Thomas  ? 
C,91    _  ()f  how  many  did  his  anny  consist  ? 
£92  .  —  How  strong  was  tho  enemy  ? 

693    —  Where  did  Sullivan  halt  ?  " 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Us.Pg- 

694  Ib'D  What  reply  was  made  when  the  last  petition  was  presented  to  tU 

king? 

fi95    —  What  treaties  were  made  with  German  princes  ? 
096    —  What  expedition  was  despatched  in  1776  ? 

697  —  Who  was  appointed  commander  of  the  British  naval  forces  ? 

698  —  What  preparations  were  made  at  Charleston  ? 

1)99  170  Relate  what  occurred  in  the  attack  on  Sullivan's  island  ? 

700  —  What  was  the  effect  of  this  battle  ? 

701  171  What  able  pamphlet  was  published  at  this  time  ? 

702  172  Who  proposed,  in  Congress,  a  declaration  of  independence? 

703  —  Who  seconded  the  motion  ? 

704  —  Who  were  the  committee  appointed  to  prepare  it  t 

705  —  On  what  day  was  it  adopted  1 
700    —  Recite  the  17th  section. 

707  173  What  was  done  at  New- York  ? 

708  —  How  was  the  American  army  posted  1 

709  —  Where  did  the  British  troops  first  land  ? 

710  —  How  were  the  two  armies  posted  on  Long  Island : 

711  174  Describe  the  battle  which  took  place. 

712  —  Which  gained  the  victory  ? 

713  —  Wliither  did  Washington  retreat  ? 

714  175  Where  did  he  take  post  in  September  ? 

715  —  What  did  the  enemy  then  do  ? 

716  —  What  calamity  happened  to  the  city  ? 

717  —  What  plan  of  warfare  did  Washington  adopt  '*. 

718  —  To  what  place  did  he  next  repair  ? 

7.19    —  What  was  the  result  of  the  battle  tliere  fought "'. 
720    —  What  fort  was  attacked  ? 
721*  —  Where  was  it  situated  ? 

722  176  Which  gained  the  victor}'? 

723  —  What  then  followed  ? 

724  —  What  proclamation  was  issued  ? 

725  177  To  what  place  did  Congress  remove? 

726  —  With  what  power  did  they  invest  Washington'^ 

727  —  What  happened  to  general  Lee  ? 

728  —  What  was  the  behavior  cf  the  British? 

729  —  What  brilliant  victory  was  achieved? 

730  178  What  other  exploit  was  performed? 

731  —  Who  was  among  the  wounded? 

732  —  What  followed? 

733  —  What  effect  had  these  victories  ? 

CHAPTER  XIX, 

734  179  What  spirit  did  Congress  exhibit  ? 

735  —  What  measures  did  they  take  ? 

736  —  Who  were  sent  commissioners  to  France  ? 

737  —  What  did  the  French  ministry  permit  ? 

738  —  Of  what  value  were  the  prizes  made  by  American  privateers ". 

739  180  What  distinguished  Frenchman  joined" the  Americans? 

740  —  What  appointment  did  he  receive  ? 

741  —  How  were  the  American  prisoners  treated? 

742  181  To  what  place  did  Howe  transport  his  troops? 

743  —  Wliither  did  Washington  march  ? 

744  —  Which  gained  the  victory  at  Brandywlne  creek  ? 

745  —  What  officer  was  wounded  ? 

746  —  To  what  place  did  Washington  eventually  rrtrenl  -' 
;  47  —  "When  did  Howe  enter 


.      . 

748  182  What  was  the  result  of  the  battle  on  Lake  Champlainl 

749  —  What  expedition  was  concerted  in  the  -winter  ? 

750  —  By  whom  was  it  to  be  commanded  ? 

751  _  What  American  commanded  the  northern  department? 

752  183  To  what  place  did  Burgoyne  despatch  St.  Leger  ? 

753  —  When  did  he  appear  before  Ticonderoga  ? 

754  __  What  was  the  number  of  his  army  1 

755  —  When  was  Ticonderoga  evacuated  ? 

750    —  To  what  place  did  the  Americans  eventually  retreat  T 

757  —  What  intelligence  was  received  from  St.  Leger  ? 

758  184  What  was  the  effect  of  the  American  proclamation? 

759  —  Whither  did  Burgoyne  despatch  Baum  ? 

760  —  Who  commanded  the  American  militia? 

761  _  Which  gained  the  victory  on  the  16th  of  August  ? 

762  —  What  occurred  afteVwards  ? 

763  —  What  was  the  effect  of  the  victory  at  Bennington  ? 

764  185  What  was  the  fate  of  St.  Leger's  expedition? 

765  —  Who  were  appointed  to  command  the  American  army  * 

766  —  Describe  the  first  battle  of  Stillwater. 

767  186  Describe  the  second. 

768  —  What  was  done  by  general  Vaughan  ? 

769  —  To  what  place  did  Burgoyne  retreat? 

770  187  When  did  he  surrender? 

7.71  188  Describe  the  battle  of  Germantown. 

772  —  State  the  result  of  the  assault  upon  Red  bank  and  upon  For 

773  —  Where  did  Washington's  army  pass  the  winter  ? 

CHAPTER  XX 

774  189  When  was  the  Confederation  adopted  ? 

775  —  What  powers  did  it  confer  on  Congress  • 

77 6  —  What  right  did  the  states  reserve? 

777  —  Who  was  appointed  inspector  general  ? 

778  190  What  treaties  were  made  with  France  ' 

779  —  What  act  was  passed  by  the  British  parliament? 

780  —  State  what  took  place  between  the  commissioners  and  Joseph  Reed . 

781  —  What  course  did  Great  Britain  pursue? 

782  191  When  did  the  British  army  quit  Philadelphia? 

783  —  Did  a  battle  take  place  soon  after?  Where? 

784  —  Who  commanded  the  Americans? 

785  —  What  was  the  result  of  the  battle  ? 
78G  —  What  charges  were  made  against  Lee  ?• 

787  —  What  was  his  sentence  ? 

788  192  What  assistance  arrived  from  France-? 

789  —  What  enterprise  was  then  projected  ? 

790  —  Who  commanded  the  American  troops  '. 

791  — What  occurred  at  sea? 

192    —  What  was  Sullivan  compelled  to  do  ? 

793  193  What  towns  were  attacked  and  ravaged? 

794  —  Relate  what  occurred  at  Tappan. 

795  —  How  and  where  did  Washington's  army  pass  the  whiter? 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

796  194  By  what  was  the  campaign  of  1779  distinguished? 

797  —  \Vhat  expedition  sailed  from  New- York? 

798  —  What  did  the  enemy  effect  in  Georgia? 

799  —  Who  took  command  in  the  southern  department  ? 

800  —  What  occurred  at  Savannah  ? 

$0!  ]95  What  other  expedition  sailed  from  New-York'.' 
B  15 


10  Ul 

Qs.  Pg. 

802  —  What  did  it  accomplish  ? 

803  —  What  expedition  did  Clark  undertake  ' 

804  —  What  was  his  success  ? 

805  —  What  \vere  the  purpose  and  success  of  Sullivan's  cxpcditiuu 

806  196  What  towns  were  burnt  in  Connecticut ? 

807  —  What  exploit  was  performed  by  general  Wayne  ? 

808  —  What  naval  battle  was  fought  in  September ? 

809  197  Where  did  the  northern  army  pass  the  winter  1 
S10    —  Were  their  sufferings  great  ? 

811  —  How  much  paper  money  had  been  issued  ? 

812  —  How  much  had  it  depreciated  ? 

813  —  \Vhat  new  mode  way  adopted  to  supply  the  army" 

CHAPTER  XXIT. 

814  198  What  place  did  the  enemy  besiege  in  the  spring  ? 

815  —  Who  were  the  opposing  commanders  ? 

816  199  What  was  the  event  of  the  siege  ? 

817  —  What  exploit  did  colonel  Tarleton  perform  ? 

818  —  What  conduct  of  general  Clinton  excited  indignation'. 

819  200  What  service  did  Sumpter  render? 

820  —  Who  led  an  army  from  the  north? 

821  —  Describe  the  battle  near  Camden. 

822  201  What  occurred  at  the  Catawba  lord  1 

£23    —  What  conduct  did  Cornwaliis  adopt  ?        .J 
$24    —  Who  wus  a  successful  leader  of  the  patriots  ' 

825  —  Who  was  appointed  commander  of  the  lories  • 

826  202  Where  was  he  posted  ? 

827  —  By  whom  was  he  attacked,  and  what  was  the  result  •' 

828  —  Who  was  appointed  to  succeed  Gates  ? 

829  —  Where  was  the  northern  army  posted  ? 

830  —  What  were  their  sufferings  and  conduct? 

831  —  What  squadron  and  troops  arrived  in  July  ; 

832  203  What  project  was  disconcerted  ?  How ". 

833  —  What  disaffected  Arnold  ? 
£34    _  What  plot  did  he  meditate  ? 

835  —  With  whom  had  he  an  interview  ? 

836  —  Relate  the  circumstances  of  Andre's  capture  '.' 

837  204  What  was  his  conduct  ?  What  his  fate  ' 

838  205  How  much  did  Arnold  receive  ? 

839  —  What  occurred  at  Morristown  ? 

840  —  What  were  the  complaints  of  the  soldiers  ' 

841  206  How  was  the  mutiny  appeased  ? 
812    —  What  did  the  states  do  ? 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

843  20G  What  project  was  resumed  in  the  spring  of  ITS1  .' 

844  —  What  delayed  its  accomplishment? 

845  207  What  commander  fought  the  battle  of  the  Cowpcnsi 

846  —  What  was  the  result  ? 

847  —  What  did  Cornwaliis  attempt  ? 

848  —  What  occurred  on  the  retreat? 

8-49  208  Describe  the  engagement  between  Lee  and  the  lories. 

850  209  Give  an  account  of  the  battle  at  Guillurd  courthouse. 

851  —  Where  did  Greene  halt  ? 

852  —  Whither  did  Cornwaliis  proceed? 

853  —  Which  was  victorious  at  Ilobkirk's  hill? 

85-1    —  What  posts  were  captured  in  South-Carolina  ? 
fc55  210  What  vras  tlie  event  of  the  siege  of  Ninety-Sfc  ? 


1? 

Qs.  Pg. 

856  211  Describe  the  battle  of  Eutaw. 

857  —  To  what  place  did  Cornwallis  repair  ? 

858  —  Why  was  he  recalled  to  the  sea-board  •' 

859  212  What  posts  did  he  fortify  ? 

$60  —  What  did  Washington  determine  to  do  7 
861  —  What  expedition  did  Clinton  despatch? 
802  —  What  did  it  accomplish  1 

863  213  What  news  did  Washington  receive  at  Chester? 

864  —  Of  how  many  troops  did  the  allied  forces  consist  ? 

805  —  When  was  the  cannonade  begun  ? 

806  214  What  occurred  during  the  siege  ? 

867  —  When  did  Cornwallis  surrender  ? 

868  —  What  was  the  number  of  prisoners  ? 

869  —  What  emotions  did  this  victory  produce  in  America  ? 

870  215  What  were  the  feelings  of  the  British  nation  ? 

871  —  What  of  the  king  ? 

872  —  What  opinion  did  the  house  of  commons  express  ? 

873  —  When  were  pacific  overtures  made  ? 

874  —  When  did  hostilities  cease  1 

875  —  Who  wrere  the  American  ministers? 

876  216  Who  was  the  British  minister" 

877  —  \Vhen  was  the  definitive  treaty  signed  ? 

878  217  Why  were  the  American  troops  dissatisfied? 

879  —  What  occurred  at  Newburgh  ? 

880  —  When  was  the  army  disbanded  ? 

881  218  When  was  New- York  evacuated?     s 

882  —  When  did  Washington  resign  his  commission  V 

883  —  To  what  place  did  he  retire  ? 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

884  218  What  was  the  state  of  the  country  at.  the  close  of  the  war? 

885  —  How  much  had  national  securities  depreciated  ? 
£§G    —  What  prevented  the  prosperity  of  commerce  ? 

887  219  What  occurred  in  Massachusetts  ? 

888  —  What  was  the  result  of  the  meeting  at  Annapolis  ? 

889  220  What  resolution  did  Congress  adopt  1 

890  —  When  did  the  convention  meet  ? 

891  —  Who  was  chosen  president  of  it  ? 

892  —  Did  they  agree  upon  a  constitution  ? 

893  —  In  what  does  this  constitution  differ  from  the  article?  of  confede 

ration  ? 

894  —  What  is  said  of  the  menibers  of  the  house  ? 

895  —  WThat  of  the  senators  1 
S9G    _  What  of  President  ? 

K97  221  What  of  the  Vice-President  ? 

#98    —  What  is  required  in  passing  a  law  ? 

899  —  What  powers  are  conferred  on  Congress  ? 

900  —  What  is  said  of  the  judicial  department  ? 

901  —  What  objections  were  made  to  the  Constitution  ? 

902  222  By  what  names  were  its  friends  and  opposers  styled  ? 
1)03    —  By  how  many  states  was  it  ratified  ? 

904  —  Who  was  elected  first  President ?    Who  Vice-president  ? 

905  —  When  was  the  President  inaugurated  ? 
WO  223  What  duties  were  laid? 

<i07    —  What  departments  were  established  ? 

908  —  Who  were  appointed  secretaries? 

909  —  What,  tour  did  the  President  make  ? 
«.»10  224  What  did  Hamilton  recommend? 

'.n  l    —  For  wlmi  reasons  v,*3p  his  recommendation  m^osod  •' 


18  QUESTIONS. 

Us.  Pg- 

912  224  Was  it  adopted?    What  was  the  amount  of  debt  funded  ? 

913  225  Why  were  the  duties  on  distilled  spirits  proposed? 

914  _  When  were  they  laid  ? 

9]  5    _  When  was  the  bank  incorporated  ? 

916  —  When  did  North  Carolina  adopt  the  constitution? 

917  __  when  did  Rhode  Island  ? 

918  —  Where  is  Vermont  situated  ? 

919  _  By  what  states  had  the  territory  been  claimed  1 

920  —  What  did  the  inhabitants  do  in  1777  ? 

921  —  In  what  year  was  Vermont  admitted  into  the  Union  ? 

922  —  When  was  Kentucky  admitted? 

993  226  When  was  the  first  census  completed  ? 

924  —  What  was  the  number  of  inhabitants  7 

925  ~  How  many  were  slaves  ? 

920    —  State  the  amount  of  the  revenue,  imports,  and  exports*. 

927  —  When  was  the  war  with  the  Creeks  tenninated  3 

928  —  With  what  tribes  did  war  still  exist  ? 

929  —  Wlio  commanded  the  troops  sent  against  them  ? 

930  —  State  the  circumstances  and  result  of  the  battle. 

031  227  Who  were  next  elected  President  and  Vice-President  7 
$32    —  What  occurred  in  France,  at  this  period  ? 

933  228  What  were  the  feelings  of  the  Americans  and  French? 

934  —  Who  was  appointed  minister  to  the  United  States  ? 
$35    —  What  authority  did  he  assume  1 

536  229  What  course  did  the  President  take  ? 

937  —  Who  was  appointed  to  succeed  St.  Clair  ? 

938  230  Was  he  successful  ? 

939  —  When  and  where  did  he  conclude  a  treaty? 

940  —  What  produced  discontent  in  Pennsylvania  ? 
4)41    —  What  meeting  was  held  at  Pittsburgh  ? 

942  231  What  measure  did  the  President  adopt  ? 
043    —  Was  the  insurrection  suppressed? 

944  _  What  difficulties  existed  with  England  ? 

945  —  When  did  Mr.  Jay  conclude  a  treaty  ? 

946  232  What  appeared  to  be  public  sentiment  in  relation  to  it  ? 

947  _  Did  the  President  ratify  it  ? 

948  —  What  had  been  the  conduct  of  Spain  ? 

949  —  What  did  she  deny  to  the  western  people  ? 

950  233  When  was  a  treaty  with  her  concluded  ? 

951  —  What  privilege  did  it  secure  ? 

952  —  When  was  a  treaty  concluded  with  Algiers  ? 

953  —  When  did  Mr.  Jefferson  resign  ? 

954  234  When  did  Hamilton  ?    When  did  Knox  ? 

955  —  What  was  the  conduct  of  Fauchet  ? 

('56  235  Who  was  appointed  minister  to  France  ? 

957  —  What  did  France  wish  ? 

958  —  What  measures  did  she  adopt  ? 

959  —  Who  was  appointed  minister  to  France  in  1796? 
^K>0  236  What  determination  did  Washington  form  ? 

961  —  State  the  substance  of  his  farewell  address. 

962  —  Who  were  brought  forward  as  candidates  for  the  presidency  ? 
•963    —  Who  were  chosen  President  and  Vice  President  ? 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

964  237  What  was  the  purport  of  the  despatches  received  from  France7 

"965    —  What  laws  were  passed  ? 

966    —  Who  were  appointed  envoys  to  France  ? 

•967    —  What  was  tlie  conduct  of  the  Directory  ? 

i£i8  238  Wftpt  was  drtrrr  by  roTi<rr«ss ? 


CtUJESTTOXS-.  10 

OR.    Pg. 
%0  238  Who  was  appointed  f.o  command  the  army  ? 

970  —  What  naval  battles  were  fought  .- 

971  —  When  was  peace  concluded? 

972  _  When  did  Washington  die  ? 

973  —  What  were  the  proceedings  of  the  house  ?  , 

974  239  What  of  the  senate? 

975  240  When  did  Congress  first  meet  at  Washington  ? 

976  —  Who  were  the  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President? 

977  —  How  was  the  choice  made  1 

978  _  Who  were  elected  ? 

979  —  What  causes  rendered  Mr.  Adams  unpopular? 
$80  241  What  was  done  at  the  next  session  of  Congress? 

981  —  When  was  the  second  census  taken  ? 

982  —  What  was  the  number  of  inhabitants  ? 

983  —  How  much  had  it  increased  in  ten  years  ? 

984  —  How  much  had  the  exports  increased  ? 

985  —  How  much  the  revenue  ? 

986  —  To  what  should  this  prosperity  be  attributed  ? 

987  —  When  was  Ohio  admitted  ? 

988  —  When  was  the  right  of  deposite  at  New-Orleans  prohibited  T 

989  —  What  proposition  wras  made  in  Congress  ? 

990  —  What  course  was  adopted  ? 

991  242  What  was  the  price  paid  for  Lonsiana? 

902  —  By  whom  and  wlivn  was  Lousiana  discovered  '• 

993  —  When  ceded  to  Spain  ? 

994  _  When  retroceded  to  France  ? 

995  _  What  were  the  inhabitants  ? 

996  __  What  occurred  in  the  harbor  of  Tripoli  ? 

997  —  What  exploit  did  lieutenant  Decatur  perform  ? 

998  243  What  project  did  general  Eaton  undertake  .: 

999  —  Describe  Ids  route. 

3000    —  When  did  he  arrive  at  Derne  ? 

1001  244  What  ensued  at  that  city? 

J002    —  What  arrangement  was  made? 

3003    —  Relate  what  occurred  in  New- York  in  1804. 

1004    —  Who  were  chosen  President  and  Vice-President  in  Ib04  ? 

J005  245  Of  what  was  Barr  suspected  in  1806? 

1006  —  WTas  he  apprehended  ? 

1007  —  When  and  where  was  he  tried  1 

1 008  —  What  was  the  verdict  of  the  j  ury  1 

1009  —  What  was  the  state  of  Europe  at  this  period  ? 

1010  246  What  advantage  did  America  derive  ? 

1011  —  What  right  did  Great  Britain  claim? 

1012  —  What  aggressions  were  committed  by  British  cruizers? 

1013  —  State  the  purport  of  the  British  orders,  dated  in  1806? 

1014  247  What  decree  was  issued  at  Berlin  ? 

1015  —  What  was  the  effect  of  these  measures? 

1016  —  What  event  occurred  in  June,  1807  ? 

1017  —  What  measures  did  the  President  adopt? 

1018  —  What  course  did  the  British  government  take? 

1019  248  What  important  law  was  enacted? 

1020  —  What  measures  were  adopted  by  Great  Britain? 

1021  —  What  by  Bonaparte? 

1022  —  What  effect  had  the  embargo  upon  the  people  of  New-England? 

1 023  249  Mr.  Jefferson  declining,  who  was  elected  president  ? 

1024  —  Who  Vice-President  ? 

1025  —  What  law  was  substituted  for  the  embargo? 
5026  —  What  arrangement  was  made  with  Erskine? 
J027  —  Wa,s  it  ratified  by  Great  Britain  ? 

1028  250  Dirt  Orent  Britain  persist  in  heninfrieridly  conduct  ?f 


&>  QUESTIONS. 

Qs.    Pg. 

1029  250  What  occurred  on  the  coasts  of  Virginia; 

3030    —  What  did  Mr.  Foster  propose  1 

1031  251  How  many  vessels  had  been  captured  since  1803,  by  British 

crui/ers  ? 

3032    —  What  did  the  President  recommend  ? 
1033    —  What  laws  were  enacted  ? 
3034    —  Relate  what  occurred  at  Tippecanoe. 

1035  252  What  was  the  object  of  John  Henry's  mission? 

1036  —  Did  he  meet  with  any  success? 
3037    —  When  was  war  declared? 

J038    —  For  what  reasons  was  it  condemned? 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

3  039  253  Who  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  ? 
1 040    —  What  other  generals  were  appointed  ? 

3041  —  When  did  Hull  invade  Canada? 

3042  254  What  events  occurred  in  that  quarter? 

1043  —  Who  led  an  expedition  towards  the  territory  of  Michigan  1 

1044  255  For  what  purpose  was  an  army  assembled'on  the  frontier? 

1 045  —  Who  commanded  this  army  ? 

1 046  —  What  post  was  assaulted  ?    With  what  success  ? 
jl  047  256  Who  succeeded  Van  Rensselaer  ? 

1048    —  What  abortive  attempts  did  he  make? 

j  049    —  What  was  done  by  general  Dearborn  ? 

3050  257  Describe  the  battle  between  the  Constitution  and  Guerriere. 

}051  259  What  other  naval  victories  were  gained? 

1052    —  What  \vas  the  number  of  prizes  made  during  the  first  seven 

months  of  the  war  ? 
.3 053  259  Who  were  elected  President  and  Vice-President  in  ISIS? 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

3054  259  What  terms  were  offered  to  the  British  government? 
j  055    —  Why  were  the  propositions  of  Great  Britain  rejected  ? 
1056    —  What  measures  did  Congress  adopt  ? 
3057  260  What  took  place  at  French  town? 
1058  261  To  what  place  did  Harrison  march  ? 
3059    —  By  whom  was  fort  Meigs  invested? 
10CO    —  What  did  general  Clay  attempt  ? 
3061    —  What  success  did  he  meet  with? 

1062  —  How  did  the  siege  terminate? 

1063  —  Describe  the  attack  upon  York. 

1064  262  What  general  was  killed  there  ? 
}  065    —  What  fort  was  next  attacked  ? 

3066  —  What  generals  were  made  prisoners  at  Stoney  crtek  ? 

3067  —  What  other  misfortune  followed? 

3068  263  What  post  was  attacked  by  the  British? 

3069  —  Who  commanded  there  ? 

}070    —  What  was  the  event  of  the  attack  ? 

3071  —  What  occurred  on  the  sea-coast  ? 

3072  264  Describe  the  naval  action  fought  February  23rd. 

3  073    —  Describe  the  action  between  the  Chesapeake  and  Shanrfom 
3074  265  What  were  the  last  words  of  Lawrence? 
3  075    —  How  was  the  victory  received  in  England  ? 

3076  —  What  other  contests  took  place  at  sea  ? 

3077  266  Describe  the  affair  at  fort  Stephenson. 

3078  —  What  present  did  colonel  Croghan  receive  ? 

]  079    —  Who  were  the  respective  commanders  on  lake  Ert* ? 
?o«o  967  What  words  were  inscribed  on  Parry's  flm:  ? 


QUESTIONS. 
*<is.  Pg. 

1081  267  Relate  the  events  of  the  battle. 
j082    —  Recite  Perry's  letter  to  Harrison. 
3083    —  What  did  Harrison  effect  ? 

1084  268  Who  was  appointed  to  command  the  army  of  the  centre1? 

1085  —  What  orders  did  he  receive  ? 

J086    —  What  occurred  while  descending  the  St.  Lawrence  ? 

1087  —  Why  was  the  project  abandoned  ? 

1088  269  What  offer  was  made  by  the  emperor  of  Russia  1 

1089  —  Who  were  appointed  commissioners  ? 

1090  —  What  laws  were  passed  by  Congress  ? 

1091  —  What  spirit  was  displayed  by  the  southern  Indians  ? 
]  092  270  What  occurred  at  fort  Mimms  ? 

1 093  —  Describe  the  battle  at  Tallushatchie ;  at  Talladega ; 

faw  ;  at  Tohopeka. 

1094  271  What  occurred  at  the  Hickory  ground? 

3095  —  Recite  Wetherford's  speech. 

CHAPTER  XXVIIL 

3096  272  What  bounty  was  offered  to  recruits? 

3097  —  What  communication  was  received  from  Great  Britain7 
J098    —  Was  the  proposition  accepted? 

1099  —  Who  were  appointed  additional  commissioners? 

1100  —  What  occurred  at  the  river  La  Cole? 

1101  —  Who  was  appointed  to  succeed  Wilkinson? 

1102  —  What  events  had  recently  occurred  in  Europe? 

]  103    —  How  were  these  events  advantageous  to  Great  Britain? 

]  104  273  Which  party  was  victorious  at  Chippewa? 

1105    —  Relate  the  events  of  the  battle  of  Bridgewater. 

]  106  274  What  step  did  general  Ripley  take? 

1107    —  By  how  many  troops  was  fort  Erie  invested  ? 

3 108    —  What  was  the  event  of  the  assault  made  by  the  enemy  ? 

1 109  —  What  of  the  sortie  made  by  the  besieged  ? 
3  110  275  When  was  the  siege  abandoned? 

jlll  —  When  did  general  Izard  arrive  from  Plattsburgh  ? 

3112  —  What  expeditions  proceeded  from  Canada? 

3113  —  What  was  the  object  of  each  ? 

3 114  __  What  took  place  at  the  ford  ? 

3115  276  What  was  the  result  of  '-he  battle  on  the  lake? 

1110  —  What  did  the  British  army  then  do  ? 
1 117    —  What  actions  occurred  at  sea  ? 

J118  277  Where  were  great  exertions  made  for  defence? 
1119    —  When  did  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  land  ? 
3 120    —  Where  did  the  Americans  make  a  stand? 

1 121  —  What  occurred  there  ? 

1 122  —  Whither  did  general  Winder  retreat  ? 

1123  —  When  did  the  enemy  enter  Washington? 

1 124  278  What  was  their  conduct  their  ? 

3 125  —  What  took  place  at  Alexandria  ? 

3 126  —  What  did  Ross  next  undertake? 
1 127    —  What  was  his  fate  ? 

11-28  279  How  was  the  fleet  received? 

3,129    —  What  was  the  event  of  this  expedition? 

3 130  —  .When  did  the  convention  meet  at  Hartford  ? 

3 131  —  What  was  enumerated  and  proposed  in  their  address,? 

3132  280  What  information  was  received  from  Ghent?  '    r 

3133  — What  measures  did  Congress  adopt  ? 

3 134  —  Who  performed  the  duties  of  Secretary  of  War  ? 
1135  — Who  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Trea^ry  1 
I T36  —  Wfiat  fttrce  arrjveri  at  Pem&pte  ? 


«a  QUESTIONS. 

Qs.  Pj:. 

3 137  280  What  was  it  permitted  to  do? 

1 138    —  What  did  general  Jackson  do  ? 

3139    —  What  information  did  he  receive  at  Mobile " 

3  140    — -  What  step  did  he  then  take  ? 

3041    —  What  did  he  find  the  condition  of  New-Orleans  I 

1142  2S1  What  was  his  conduct  ? 

1 143  —  Where  did  the  enemy  take  a  position,  December  22nd  ? 
3  144    _  What  occurred  in  the  evening  of  the  23rd  ? 

1145  282  Where  did  Jackson  erect  fortifications  ? 
H46    —  Were  these  assaulted?    With  what  success? 
3147    —  When  was  the  last  assault  made  ?    Describe  it. 

1148  —  What  was  the  amount  of  loss  on  each  side? 

1149  283  What  took  place  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  ? 

3150  —  What  course  did  general  Lambert  then  take? 

3151  —  When  was  peace  concluded  ? 

1152  —  What  were  the  provisions  of  the  treaty? 

1153  —  What  victories  were  achieved  at  sea? 

APPENDIX. 

3154  284  By  what  was  the  era  of  the  settlement  of  this  country  distin* 

guished  ? 

3155  —  What  distinguished  the  country  whence  the  settlers  came? 

3 156  _  To  what  class  did  they  belong  ? 

j  157    —  What  powerful  establishments  existed  in  Europe  ? 

1158  —  What  conduct  did  they  pursue  ? 

1 159  _  Were  these  establishments  transferred  to  America  ? 
31  HO  285  What  doctrine  prevailed  in  Europe? 

;,  163  —  What  was  the  nature  and  consequence  of  this  doctrine  •- 

3 162  —  What  is  meant  by  the  law  of  primogeniture  ? 

3 163  —  What  was  the  operation  of  this  law  ? 

3 164  _  Does  this  doctrine,  or  this  law,  exist  in  the  United  States  ? 

3165  —  What  is  said  of  the  systems  of  government  established  in  the 

colonies  ? 
1166  286  In  what  is  the  contrast  greatest  between  the  European  and 

American  systems  of  government  ? 
3  If57    —  What  does  the  military  peace  establishment  of  Great  Britain 

cost? 

3 168  —  What  that  ef  the  United  States  ? 

3169  —  What  the  respective  naval  establishments? 

3170  —  What  do  British  subjects  pay  individually  in  taxes? 

3171  —  What  do  those  of  the  United  States  pay  ? 

3372  —  in  what  pursuits  are  the  greatest  portion  of  the  inhabitants  en 

gaged  ? 

3373  —  What  is  produced  in  the  northern  states  ? 
3174    _  What  in  the  middle  and  western  ? 

1175    —  What  in  the  southern  ? 

3176    —  What  number  was  engaged  in  agriculture  in  1820? 

1177    —  What  value  of  agricultural  products  was  exported? 

3178    —  State  the  value  of  the  principal  articles. 

1179  287  What  circumstances  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  coift- 

merce  ? 

3  ISO  .  —  State  the  increase  of  our  tonnage  and  revenue. 
1181    —  How  many  were  engaged  in  commerce  in  1820? 

3 182  —  What  was  the  amount  of  exports  and  imports  in  1823  ? 

3 183  —  What  in  1807  ? 

,3084    —  Why  has  commerce  declined? 
v    1185  288  How  early  &.  the  rod  fishery  on  the  American  coast  attract 


QUESTIONS.  B3 

1186  288  How  many  ships  and  seamen  did  the  French  employ  in  it,  in 

1744  1 

1 187  —  What  quantity  of  fish  did  they  take  ? 

3188 In  1760,  how  many  vessels  were  fitted  out  from  the  ports  of 

New-England  ? 

3 189  —  How  many  seamen  were  employed  ? 

3190  _  What  is  said  in  relation  to  the  negotiation  of  the  peace  of 

1783? 

3 191  _  What  estimate  has  been  made  in  relation  to  these  fisheries  * 
j  192    —  What  was  their  annual  value  ? 

3193  —  Why  important  to  the  nation  ? 

3194  _  What  is  said  of  the  whale  fishery? 

3195  289  State  the  value  of  the  products  of  this  fishery  exported  in  1807? 

In  1823? 

1190    —  Recite  the  extract  from  Burke's  speech. 
1197    _  What  is  said  of  manufactures  ? 
1098  290  What  gave  the  first  impulse  to  this  branch  of  industry  ? 

3199  —  What  was  the  amount  of  manufactures  in  1814  ? 

3200  —  Which  are  the  principal  manufacturing  states? 

3201  —  Which  the  principal  manufactures? 

1202    —  ITow  many  were  engaged  in  manufactures  in  1820  ? 

3203  291  What  was  the  amount  of  the  debt  in  1790? 

3204  —  WThat  in  1812  ? 

3205  —  How  much  was  contracted  in  the  last  war  ? 

3206  —  What  was  the  amount  in  1823? 

3207  —  From  what  is  the  revenue  principally  derived  ? 

3208  —  In  1822,  how  much  accrued  from  commerce? 

J209    —  How  much  from  the  sale  of  lands  ?    How  much  from  other 
sources? 

3210  —  What  was  the  amount  of  expenditures  in  1822  ? 

3211  —  What  was  the  excess  of  revenue  over  expenditures? 

3212  —  What  course  has  been  pursued  in  Europe,  in  relation  to  edu 

cation  ? 
JS213    —  What  in  the  United  States  ? 

1214  292  What  law  was  passed  in  1647,  in  relation  to  schools! 

1215  —  What  was  done  when  the  inhabitants  increased? 

3216  —  What  is  the  amount  of  the  school  fund  in  Connecticut  ? 

3217  —  How  is  the  interest  apropriated  ? 

3218  —  What  has  been  the  effect  of  this  system? 

3219  —  What  is  the  amount  of  the  school  fund  in  New- York? 

1220  —  How  is  the  interest  appropriated  ? 

1221  —  How  many  scholars  were  taught  there  in  1823  ? 
1922    —  What,  is  said  of  education  in  Virginia? 

1223  293  What  has  the  national  government  done  in  relation  to  edu 
cation? 

3224  —  What  is  said  of  Academies? 

3225  —  When  was  Harvard  College  founded?    Where? 

1226  —  How  many  volumes  does  the  library  contain? 

1227  —  When  was  Yale  College  founded? 
3228  294  Where  te  it  established  ? 

]  229  —  How  many  volumes  does  its  libraries  contain  ? 

3  230  —  How  many  other  colleges  are  there  in  the  Union  ? 

3231  —  What  are  taught  in  all? 

1232  —  What  in  addition  are  taught  in  some  of  them? 

3  233  —  What  remark  has  been  made  of  the  United  States  ? 

1234  —  Is  it  just? 

1235  —  What  direction  has  been  given  to  talents  in  the  United  States  • 
.1236  295  What  celebrated  inventors  may  America  boast  of? 

3-4237    —  Who  are  her  eminent  historians  ?    Theological  writeja  ? 
.   J239    —-"What  political  writings  are  spoken  of  ?  K* 


24  QUESTIONS, 

Qs.  Pg. 

1239  295  What  is  said  of  American  painters? 

J240  296  Where  are  Congregationalists  most  numerous  1 

J241    —  W'here  Presbyterians  ?    Where  Methodists  1     Where  Roman 

Catholics  ? 

]242    —  What  are  the  distinguishing  traits  of  the  American  character  7 
j  043    _  What  is  said  of  the  manners  of  Americans  ? 
1244  297  How  often  does  the  population  of  the  United  States  double? 
3245    —  How  often  that  of  Great  Britain  ? 

1246  —  Has  the  augmentation  of  wealth  and  power  been  as  rapid? 

1247  —  What  circumstances  indicate  that  the  United  States  will  con 

tinue  to  prosper  ? 

1248  298  Yet  on  what  does  their  prosperity  depend  J 


14  DAY  USE 

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